Review
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"From the comic book superhero-like illustrations to the
heartfelt repeated chorus of 'Sometimes it only takes a few/Who
know what's right, and do it, too, ' this wonderful rhyming
retelling of the Chanukah story is sure to be a favourite of
adventure-loving little girls and boys."--Noodlenuts
--Website
"With its 'little engine that could' vibe and comic book-style
illustrations, Maccabee! is sure to entertain young readers as
well as inform them on the origins of Hanukkah. Harrington's bold
art creates a sense of energy and determination while Balsley's
rhyming text urges the story on. An author's note provides
additional information on Hanukkah traditions."--School Library
Journal, Extra Helping
--Website
"Maccabee tells the Hanukkah story, focusing on the actions of
the famed heroic family that led the fight in Jerusalem against
the idol-loving Greeks and their leader King Antiochus in ancient
times (165 B.C.E.). The action in the picture book focuses on the
small group of Jews who struggled long ago against the oppression
and injustice inflicted by the invading Greeks as well as their
resistance to assimilation. Forced idol worshipping and the
invading army's desecration of the Temple enrage the Maccabees.
They steal away and regroup in the Judean Hills to plan their
winning attack on the well-armed invaders. The epilogue jumps to
modern day asking the question "What would Judah do?" making the
leap to question our modern day observances of the events. The
account is told in an accessible rhyme with a refrain "Sometimes
it only takes a few, /who know what's right and do it, too."
Children will relate to the bright, stylized, cartoon-like
illustrations and the characters' dramatic expressions. The
compositions are dynamic and bold. For ages 4-8." --Jewish Book
World
--Magazine
"Rhyming text recounts the Maccabees' stand for religious
freedom; clever moments balance out some preachy ones. The text
works better to reinforce the story for celebrants than to
introduce it to readers of other faiths. Appropriately for the
Festival of Lights, Harrington's use of light is the
illustrations' greatest strength." --The Horn Book Guide
--Journal
"As the story goes, after the Jews refused to worship the Greek
Gods, King Antiochus took over Jerusalem and ruined the sacred
land. Judah and his followers fought back, and as they rebuilt
their homeland, they found the legendary oil that burned for
eight days. With its superhero-like cartoon drawings and rhyming
text, this book makes the story behind Hanukkah not only easy to
understand, but enjoyable to listen to as well. The history of
the Maccabees becomes memorable with a text that flows without
being a forced rhyme. Bold, double page color illustrations
reflect the strength of character of the Maccabees. Brief
descriptions at the end of the book more fully explain the
legend. This book is an enjoyable read-aloud and will appeal to
students looking for Hanukkah material. The illustrations and
text meld together very well to make this an appealing book with
an engaging story that will captivate the reader. Recommended."
--Library Media Connection
--Journal
"The story behind Hanukkah gets the action-figure , with
Judah Maccabee as a chiseled hottie. The rhyming text is only
serviceable ('So Judah led the scrappy band/ To fight for freedom
through the land'), but it hardly matters: the real draw is the
high drama of Harrington's sculptural illustrations and their
superhero cartoon vibe, as the Maccabees fend off armored
elephants and labor to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem."
--Publishers Weekly
--Journal
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About the Author
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Tilda Balsley has written many books for Kar-Ben, bringing her
stories to life with rhyme, rhythm, and humor. Tilda lives with
her husband and their rescue Shih Tzu in Reidsville, North
Carolina.
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