Editor’s note: “The Golden Dreidel” by Ellen Kushner is a captivating early middle grade tale that beautifully weaves tradition, imagination, and the spirit of Hanukkah. Through its richly developed characters and enchanting storytelling, the book highlights important themes of family, faith, and resilience. Kushner brings to life the magic of the dreidel, making it a symbol of hope and joy. The narrative will resonate with readers of all ages and invite them to reflect on their own traditions and the importance of community. “The Golden Dreidel” is a true gem that shines bright.
The Golden Dreidel by Ellen Kushner (Author), Kevin Keele (Illustrator), Charlesbridge, September 2021.
In 2005, an editor from Charlesbridge Publishing asked Ellen if she might turn the story into a book. The result was the beautiful first edition of The Golden Dreydl (2007), with lavish illustrations by noted Jewish illustrator Ilene Winn-Lederer.
A few years later, inspired by a request from PJ Library, Charlesbridge created a new edition of Kushner’s Chanukah story, changing the spelling from Dreydl to the more modern Dreidel, and featuring new illustrations by Kevin Keele. This is the version available today on Amazon, Bookshop.org, B&N, and other book retailers.
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Bio: Ellen Kushner is the author of the queer fantasy classic Swordspoint. Her novel Thomas the Rhymer is in the Gollancz “Fantasy Masterwork” series. An award-winning audio book narrator and stage performer, a popular teacher and lecturer, for many years she was a public radio host at WGBH in Boston, where she created the national series Sound & Spirit, which Bill Moyers called “the best thing on Public Radio.” Her children’s chapter book The Golden Dreidel is based on a performance piece she created with Shirim Klezmer Orchestra to create a Jewish spin on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet. In her youth, she wrote 5 Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books. She lives in New York City with her wife, writer Delia Sherman, and a great many theater and airplane ticket stubs.
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Five tiny delights
The way gingko leaves turn a tree pure gold in the fall
Singing as I walk down the street
A cup of strong tea with milk at exactly the time in the afternoon when I need it most
Putting on flannel in winter
Conversation with a three-year-old
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Five tiny Jewish delights
The first bite of anything at the end of Yom Kippur: it’s like learning how to eat all over again!
The smell of old synagogues when you first walk into the sanctuary
The awe and respect I feel emanating from my non-Jewish friends when I light Sabbath or Chanukah candles in their presence
Being invited to High Holiday services and Seders around the world when I travel, and always feeling at home then wherever I am (let’s see: Melbourne, Australia; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Paris . . . I get around!)
Knowing that I’m not supposed to be like everyone else!
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To learn more about Ellen Kushner, The Golden Dreidel and her other work, check out the Tell Me More video interview I did with her for Judith Magazine.
https://judithmagazine.substack.com/p/tell-me-more-author-ellen-kushner