Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah

By Linda Glaser and Nancy Cote

Though it’s the first night of Hanukkah, Rachel’s family won’t really be celebrating until next week. But Rachel wants to celebrate now, so she comes up with a good idea: While her parents do errands, she’ll visit her neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg, and they can make latkes together. The two head into Mrs. Greenberg’s shiny, tidy kitchen and begin grating the potatoes. But Rachel’s gratings slide off the table and onto the floor. Before long, Rachel has dropped an egg, spilled the flour, and dribbled the oil. Mrs. Greenberg is exhausted, Rachel’s mom and dad are horrified, and Rachel is afraid she’s ruined a friendship by making this terrible mess. She is relieved and delighted to find that Mrs. Greenberg thinks it’s a wonderful mess—her house hasn’t felt so lived-in in years!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Albert Whitman Company
• Release date: Oct 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781480453722

Linda Glaser

<p>Linda Glaser's grandparents emigrated from eastern Europe in the late 1800's to New York City, where they first saw the huge statue.Also the author of the immigrant novel, BRIDGE TO AMERICA, Ms. Glaser lives in Duluth, MN.</p>

Reviews for Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The latke-loving Rachel, and her neighbor Mrs. Greenburg, whose holiday adventures began in The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes, return in this second book, once again confronting a latke shortage. In this case, the shortage is intentional (and temporary), as Rachel's mother doesn't plan on making any of the delicious potato pancakes for the first night of the holiday, saving her efforts for the big family gathering that is coming up. Rachel, dissatisfied with this idea - after all, it won't feel like Hanukkah without latkes! - convinces Mrs. Greenburg that they can make some on their own, as a surprise. And boy - is it ever a surprise!I don't know that Mrs. Greenburg's Messy Hanukkah is quite as heartwarming as the first book - it lacks that satisfying plot element in which an outsider is incorporated into the family fun - but it is still engaging, in its own right. Anyone who has ever cooked with a young person, or who assisted an older person with the cooking, when they themselves were young, will recognize some of the mishaps here! Nancy Cote, who illustrated the first Rachel/Mrs. Greenburg story, turns in anther appealing set of gouache paintings with this one. All in all, a fun little story, recommended to anyone looking for lighthearted Hanukkah tales for younger children!