An unusual Hanukkah miracleOn the first night of Hanukkah, Ruthie's parents give her a pair of holiday-themed "pajamakkahs." Dad says that she can wear them to the family's "Hanukkah Pajamakkah Party" on the eighth night. Ruthie wants to wear them "all eight nights." Mom agrees but tells her to keep them "spotless." Despite Ruthie's precautions, she accrues myriad stains as she helps cook latkes, lights the menorah, does arts and crafts, and crashes into a pile of jelly doughnuts. But there are no spots here, says Ruthie-just "streaks," "splotches," "sparkles," and "squishes." On the final night of Hanukkah, the whole family and even the dog sport pajamakkahs of their own. Mom's aghast at Ruthie's pj's. Dad says it's a miracle they lasted eight nights, but he sees spots. "Dotted, not spotted," Ruthie counters. Other, racially diverse, pajama-clad family members arrive. Ruthie twirls the dreidel and, inexplicably, causes a whirlwind, upending latkes, art supplies, and more. Are those spots on Ruthie's pajamakkahs at last? Finally, Ruthie says, "a Hanukkah miracle!" This thinly plotted, only mildly amusing story is rife with logical holes. Even the youngest readers won't believe Ruthie's parents didn't insist the badly soiled pj's should get tossed in the washer sooner. It isn't clear what's so miraculous about Ruthie's dirty jammies, and the child's literalness wears thin. The cheerful, digitally created illustrations feature familiar Hanukkah symbols but are otherwise undistinguished. Ruthie and her immediate family are pale-skinned.An upbeat holiday tale marred by spotty logic.(Picture book. 4-7)

PreS-Gr 3— On the first night of Hanukkah, rosy-cheeked Ruthie opens her present and is delighted to find a pair of Hanukkah-themed pajamas, or "Pajamakkahs!" Against the wishes of her parents, Ruthie decides she wants to wear her pajamas for eight days straight, as long as they don't get stained before the Hanukkah Pajamakkah party. "Just make sure you keep them spotless for the party," Ruthie's mom advises her. Ruthie thinks, "If the oil could last 8 nights, so could her Hanukkah pajamakkahs!" Over the course of the night, and then the following seven days, Ruthie's pajamakkahs meet "Kersplat!" and "Drip!" and "Crinkle!"—and more. Henry excites readers to see what happens next while Ruthie attempts to remain spotless for the duration of the holiday. The Ivanovs' effective depiction of crashes and splashes enhance the story as the miracle of Ruthie's untidy Hanukkah Pajamakkahs unfolds. VERDICT A fun title spotlighting Hanukkah.— Kimberly Filmore