I can’t believe it’s already almost November and the holidays are quickly approaching.  Today’s picture book is one of the first holiday picture books this year that I get to highlight.

Photo by NataliaL Photography

Charlotte Offsay has visited my blog several times.  Charlotte Offsay was born in England, grew up in Boston, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two small children. She is the author of The Quiet Forest, illustrated by Abi Cushman (Paula Wiseman Books, 2024), Challah Day!, illustrated by Jason Kirschner (Holiday House, 2023), A Grandma’s Magic, illustrated by Asa Gilland (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, April 2022), The Big Beach Cleanup, illustrated by Kate Rewse (Albert Whitman, 2021), and How to Return a Monster, illustrated by Rea Zhai (Beaming Books, 2021). She enjoys baking Challah with her two children every Friday. You can learn more about Charlotte at her website or follow her on Twitter and on Instagram.

EIGHT SWEET NIGHTS, A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: A HANUKKAH STORY is a picture book that perfectly captures the childish excitement, the comforting foods, and the warmth of family during the holiday celebrations.  And for readers who are not familiar with all the words associated with the holiday, there are sidebars on each page explaining many new vocabulary words that might seem a mystery otherwise.  There is also back matter explaining the background of the holiday.  This book is the perfect Hanukkah primer for those who are unfamiliar with it.  It’s also full of warm charm that I’m sure will make it a repeated holiday read.

Welcome back Charlotte!

Me: I love all the different aspects you share about the holiday of Hanukkah in your story.  Is it one of your favorite holidays?  What gave you the idea for this book?

Charlotte: Thank you for your kind words, I am so happy to hear you enjoyed our story. Hanukkah is one of my favorite holidays – I love family and tradition, and Hanukkah fills my home with both. I especially love its message of filling the world with light and the sense of gratitude the holiday leaves me with.

I actually cooked up the idea for this book with my editor Frances Gilbert at Doubleday Books for Young Readers/Random House. We worked together on my book, A Grandma’s Magic, and when she mentioned that she was looking for a Hanukkah book I jumped at the opportunity and began drawing on all my favorite Hanukkah memories with my children.

Me: I can’t help but hear the start of Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song” in your title (though he says “eight crazy nights” not sweet).  Was this always the title of your book?  Why a longer title like this?

Charlotte: Ha – a classic! My very first draft had the title Eight Sweet Nights as Frances and I had discussed a book filled with all the yummy sweets we enjoy throughout the holiday. The Random House team expanded the title and as a book reviewer I have to say that I am glad they did. I run a review page on Instagram and whenever I am looking to gather books on a particular topic, I always appreciate stories that let you know right from the title what the book is about.

Me: I love how the story rhymes throughout and also has sidebars of information.  Did you always have the sidebars?  Did it take a lot of revisions to get the text this well-honed?

Charlotte: Right from the beginning Frances and I had discussed how to tell the story of Hanukkah while also sharing our family traditions. As a parent I love books that include informational sidebars throughout the pages of the book as I find my kids always want to read those but never sit still for the back matter at the end of a book. I was delighted that Frances and I were on the same page regarding utilizing sidebars as an optional way for readers to extend the text within the story itself.

I went through a few revisions to find the right way into the story, but once Frances and I found the right angle it went fairly quickly as the informational sidebars allowed me to be more concise and lyrical in the text itself.

Me: Menahem Halberstadt’s illustrations are wonderful!  I especially loved the mixed family.  Did you have any art notes about that or was that Menahem’s choice?  Were there any illustration surprises for you?  Any favorites?

Charlotte: I didn’t have any notes about the characters specifically, although having worked with Frances before I knew she would be thoughtful about the approach. I am delighted with the illustrations and was already a fan of Menahem’s work before he agreed to partner on this project. I was delighted by how well she captured the heart of the book and showed the warmth and light of the holiday throughout. The outstretched arms of the grandparents melt me, as does the joy of the family celebrating together in the spread toward the end. I also adore all the tiny details sprinkled throughout, such as the forest animals peering through the window watching the family light the menorah.

Me: With several Hanukkah picture books out there already, why was it important to you to share Hanukkah and the Jewish customs associated with it with young readers in this way?

Charlotte: There are so many Hanukkah books that I love – Hanukkah Bear tops my list. I wanted to share a story that reflected how I and so many people I love celebrate. I wanted to share the light and the joy of the holiday and provide both a widow and mirror while also sharing the traditional story of Hanukkah.

Me:  I love that.  You have so many food items described in the story and I love the addition of the dreidel recipe to the box.  I know you love to bake, etc. Was that based on a real recipe you or one of your kiddos created?  Where did that idea come from?

Charlotte: I love any excuse to bake and my children often associate holidays with the foods we cook up for them together. In pre-school my children made dreidels and menorahs out of food and then would show my in-laws how to make them again at home. These memories inspired the addition to the recipe box in the book.

Me: Do you have a favorite Hanukkah treat?  If yes, which one do you enjoy the most?

Charlotte: Oh, that is hard! My favorite treat to eat is probably jelly donuts since I don’t really eat them at any other time of year. But I especially adore how excited my son is about latkes, and as long as we are making them (and leaving the lingering frying smell) at Grandma’s house then I have a lot of fun making them with her and watching my son steal them right off the counter!

Ha!  That’s awesome.  Thank you for stopping by my blog again today Charlotte.

Dear readers, this book is released into the world today.  The celebration and family story alone will snag younger readers’ attention, but the sidebars (and back matter) of facts will certainly appeal to older readers as well.  Why not start your holiday reading a bit early?  Trust me when I say, I highly recommend this picture book.