Review: Banana Menorah

Banana Menorah

by Lee Wind, illustrated by Karl West

Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Lila Spitz

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

Banana Menorah is guaranteed to get kids and parents laughing out loud and talking about unique menorah materials and shapes. When a Jewish family of three arrives at their Hanukkah beach vacation, they realize that they did not pack a menorah in their luggage. While this is disappointing, the young narrator does not despair. They cleverly use their problem solving skills and create a temporary menorah by placing candles in a banana for the first night of Hanukkah. This inventive solution is used for the second and third nights of Hanukkah when a bowl of granola and some aluminum foil are molded into the shape of a menorah. Then, on the fourth night of Hanukkah, they return home to light each one of their three “traditional” menorahs. Afterwards, the child of the family expresses their fond memories of creating unique menorahs, and the family decides to continue the tradition of one-of-a-kind menorahs until the end of Hanukkah; resulting in a latke, a cookie tray, and a snow menorah. The colors used in the illustrations are vibrant and the cartoon-like people make the story feel appropriately fun and cheerful. Menorahs are often drawn in the foreground of the page so they appear larger than actual size, however it is proportional to the importance of menorahs in the story.

Wind’s book accurately depicts religious and cultural aspects of Hanukkah - including related terminology and traditions - as portrayed by a Reform Jewish family. Examples include singing Hanukkah blessings, lighting the menorah with the “Shamash” (the Hebrew word for helper candle), referring to the Jews in the story of Hanukkah as Maccabees, and eating traditional foods such as potato latkes. The narrator has two male parental figures they called “Daddy and Papa” who are caring and supportive adults in the story. To ensure safe handling of menorahs during Hanukkah and remind young readers about fire safety, there is a list of do’s and don’t's at the end of the book. Additionally, in the author’s note they describe their own unique banana menorah story which was the inspiration for the book. 

 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REVIEWING BOOKS FOR THE SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE? CLICK HERE

 

As a Children's Librarian with the New York Public Library, Reviewer Lila Spitz leads weekly storytimes and school-age programs as well as visits to daycares and schools. She has a passion for outreach to government agencies and community organizations. Her expertise in children’s literature has been honed by her participation in the Vibrant Voices Book Committee (2025-Present), the Storytime Collection Committee (2023-2024) and the Best Books for Kids Committee (2022). When she’s not reading the latest Kate DiCamillo book, she spends her time going to museums and libraries in New York City.