‘Latkes for Santa Claus’ targets blended families

 

Latkes for Santa Claus

Written by Janie Emaus and illustrated by Bryan Langdo

Sky Pony Press, 2020

‘Latkes for Santa Claus’ begins after Anna has written an email letter to Santa saying she is about to celebrate Christmas for the first time because her new dad and stepbrother do. She thinks Santa must be tired of cookies, so she plans to leave him a special treat.

Her stepbrother Michael spins a dreidel, and tells Anna that Santa is happy with the sugar cookies he leaves him. But Anna wants to leave Santa a Jewish treat.

She considers matzo ball soup, but Michael tells her that Santa can’t eat matzo ball soup with his fingers. She imagines him with a bowl of matzo ball soup on his sleigh, matzo balls flying around and soup spilling all over.

Then she thinks about giving Santa a piece of noodle kugel, but it would be too messy, too. Finally, she imagines him loving Aunt Sarah’s tzimmes, a fruit and vegetable stew. But again, it would slop and spill all over Santa on his sleigh.

Anna goes to her thinking spot and her mind spins with ideas. Finally, she comes up with the perfect treat – potato latkes.

Christmas morning all of Michael’s cookies and Anna’s latkes are gone. Anna gets an email from Santa saying he loved the latkes and asking for the recipe.

Langdo's colorful illustrations complement the words beautifully. 

At the back of the book, there are recipes for potato latkes and sugar cookies, so children can try both at home.

About the Author

Janie Emaus is the author of the young adult novel “Mercury in Retro Love.” She writes both fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Her articles and stories have been published in numerous magazines, anthologies, and websites including the “Los Angeles Times” Kids’ Reading Room Page, “The Washington Post,” AARP, “Country Living,” “Good Housekeeping,” and “Woman’s Day.” "Latkes for Santa" is her debut picture book. She lives in Winnetka, CA, and celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah.   

About the Illustrator

Bryan Langdo has illustrated more than 30 children’s books and authored two, “Tornado Slim” and “The Magic Cowboy Hat,” which won a 2012 Spur Award for Storytelling from Western Writers of America. He lives in central New Jersey with his wife, two children, and an assortment of pets.