The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol

“A new, entertaining, and thoughtful addition to the Hanukkah canon.” —Kirkus Reviews

Nate Gadol is a great big spirit with eyes as shiny as golden coins and a smile that’s lantern-bright. He can make anything last as long as it’s needed: a tiny bit of oil that must stretch for eight nights, a flower that needs to stay fresh to cheer up someone ailing, or a small lump of chocolate that grows to allow the Glasers to treat their children over the holiday—a miracle allowing them to share what little they have in a harsh winter when medicine is needed more than sweets. In this charming holiday story, well-known children’s author and editor Arthur A. Levine pairs with award-winning illustrator Kevin Hawkes to offer a mythical, magical take on how Jewish families came to give and receive gifts over Hanukkah—just as their Christian neighbors do at Christmas—thanks to a loving spirit named Nate Gadol working behind the scenes with a certain jolly old soul.

Arthur A. Levine has been a children’s book editor for more than thirty years. He is also the author of many acclaimed picture books for children, including What a Beautiful Morning, illustrated by Katie Kath, and The Very Beary Tooth Fairy, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. He had his own eponymous imprint at Scholastic Press and has published many of the most exceptional children’s titles of all time, including J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, Shaun Tan’s The Arrival, and Peggy Rathmann’s Officer Buckle and Gloria.

Kevin Hawkes is the illustrator of many books for children, including the best-selling Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen and Weslandia by Paul Fleischman. Kevin Hawkes lives with his family in southern Maine.