Print ISBN: 0807578622

Language: English

JUV017110  –  Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Celebrations / Hanukkah

JUV033020  –  Juvenile Fiction / Religious / Jewish

Worldwide

-Recommended by the National Conference of Christians and Jews.... -Nominated for the National Jewish Book Award for Children.... This perennial classic tells the tender story of a young Jewish girl at Christmastime. Robin loves Christmas trees but knows Jews do not celebrate Christmas. One day at school, another Jewish girl tells her about a wonderful new invention called a ‘Chanukah Bush.’ “It’s like a Christmas tree,” explains schoolmate Sandy Goldstein, “but it’s for Jews.” Robin rushes home to tell her family the great news. The story unfolds in warm, loving chapters which examine the yearly “Christmas Dilemma” faced by many children in this country who are born to diverse cultures and beliefs. In CHANUKAH BUSH, Robin’s wise grandfather explains the difference between celebrating something you believe in, and helping friends celebrate something they believe in. “We honor our friends,” says Robin’s grandfather at book’s end, “when we share what is special in our lives with them.” A tender and timely story, “Chanukah Bush” teaches children to take pride in their heritage, to honor the differences between cultures, and to share their traditions with others. Recommended by the National Conference of Christians and Jews as a "...story promoting brotherhood and understanding," "THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A CHANUKAH BUSH, SANDY GOLDSTEIN," is for every child who has ever felt different in our society. [An EMMY-award winning film by the same name is available http://www.sisuent.com/i/4306/there-s-no-such-thing-as-chan-bush-sandy-goldstein.htm]

Every Jewish child who has felt like a stranger in his own country at Christmastime will empathize with Robin’s situation. Sussman does a fine job of picking up nuances of predicaments, such as when Robin is unsure whether or not she should sing the words to certain Christmas carols.

—Booklist

The book tells the story of a Jewish girl’s request for a Hanukkah bush. Although the child’s request is denied, her mother encourages her to invite a Christian friend over for a Hanukkah meal and allows her to attend the friend’s Christmas dinner.

—New York Times

Sussman's small narrtor Robin relates a tender story about ecumenical fellowship depicted attractively in Robinson's drawings.

—Publisher's Weekly

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A CHANUKAH BUSH, SANDY GOLDSTEIN should be placed on every Jewish family's bookshelf. Susan Sussman's extremlely well-written fiction relates how a young Jewish girl finally learns to cope with that "Christmas time of year."

—B'Nai Brith International Jewish Monthly

...a Jewish girl, tempted by the glitter and fun of Christmas, is helped by her grandfather to understand that while she can help her friends celebrate their holiday, it is not and cannot be hers. I admire this book both as a holiday guide and for dealing with Christmas in a straightforward manner.

—Los Angeles Jewish Journal

…as Jews, we can share holidays with friends-learn about each other’s customs without believing in each other’s religions. Grandpa explains, “There is a difference between celebrating something because you believe in it, and helping friends celebrate something because they believe in it.”

—The Boston Jewish Times

"There’s No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein goes to the heart of what it often feels like for children to be Jewish at Christmas time.”

—Jewish Heritage

Sussman presents and resolves the dilemma of a Jewish child who is surrounded by Christmas celebrations. …pleasant, easy reading with realistic characters and plausible situations.

—School Library Journal

Susan Sussman

Susan Sussman is the author of twenty-two books as well as numerous articles and musicals. She won an EMMY for the screen adaptation of her book THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A CHANUKAH BUSH, SANDY GOLDSTEIN (now available on DVD) and is currently working on a mystery series set in the courtrooms of south Florida.