The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

The Golden Dreidel by Ellen Kushner, illustrated by Kevin Keele Charlesbridge Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Dena Bach Buy at Bookshop.org The Golden Dreidel , by fantasy author Ellen Kushner, is a re-issue of the 2007 book The Golden Dreydl , itself a novelization of the 2002 recording, stage show, and concert, of the same name by Kushner and the Shirim Klezmer Orchestra. Billed as “A Klezmer Nutcracker for Chanukah,” the recording, like the book, is a charming mash-up of the famous Tchaikovsky ballet with klezmer music and Jewish folklore.    The Golden Dreidel follows the plot of "The Nutcracker," with a dreidel that comes to life. The narrative begins when Sara, envious of her non-Jewish friends during the winter holiday season, reluctantly goes to her extended family’s annual Chanukah party. While Sara is playing a game of dreidel with her cousins, the mysterious Tante Miriam arrives at the party bringing gifts for all the children. At midnight, Sara’s gift