Latkes and Applesauce by Fran Manushkin, Robin Spowart - Children's Books - First Edition, Story Book, Judaica, Hanukkah

First edition of Latkes and Applesauce by Fran Manushkin and Robin Spowart. A Jewish family braves a blizzard at Hanukkah that reinforces the meaning of the holiday and that "where there's life there's hope" and miracles.

Written by Fran Manushkin. Illustrated by Robin Spowart. First Scholastic printing, October 1990. Scholastic, Inc.

"It happened long ago in a village far away, where there lived a little family named Menashe. Papa and Mama Menashe were tailors who had two children, Rebecca and Ezra.

Rebecca and Ezra were wonderful children who helped their mama and papa. Every year when it came time to celebrate Hanukkah, they dug up potatoes to make the latkes, and they picked the apples for applesauce.

But one year, winter came suddenly and snow began to fall - not just a lazy flake or two or a little bit of a flurry. No! This was a tremendous blizzard..."

The blizzard strikes on the first night of Hanukkah. Papa sings the blessings, Mama lights the Shammes, and Rebecca lights the first candle, and they eat their soup, disappointed that the potatoes for their latkes are buried under the snow and there were too few apples to make applesauce yet grateful for the food they have. As the blizzard rages day after day, and their food supplies dwindle, Papa encourages them to remain positive and thankful. They're also cheered by a kitten and a dog that find their way through the snow to the Menashe's door. "Where there's life, there's hope!" On the last day of Hanukkah, the blizzard subsides and the dog digs out the potatoes and the kitten leads Papa to apples still on the tree. A day of miracles! The family has its feast, and the children name the dog Latke and the kitten Applesauce.

The book ends with the story of Hanukka, a recipe for latkes, and instructions for playing dreidel.

Fran Manushkin (1942 - ), a former teacher and children's book editor, has written many books you may recognize, including Baby, Moon Dragon, and the Angel Corners series, as well as books like Latkes and Applesauce about Jewish and Christian religious holidays.

Robin Spowart's (1947 - ) illustrations for Latkes and Applesauce earned a spot on the American Booksellers' Pick of the Lists. In addition to his own work, Spowart and his wife, writer Jeanne Modesitt, have collaborated on several well-recieved books, including Sometimes I Feel Like a Mouse, Mama, If You Had a Wish, and Little Bunny's Easter Surprise.

Condition*: Very Good/Very Good. There's a name inscribed on the front endpaper and the shadow of a label. The dust jacket has a small tear on a back corner else very good condition.

*Based on guidelines of the Independent Online Booksellers' Association.

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