Devout Hershel Brings Hanukkah Back to a Goblin-Tormented Town

Eric Kimmel is an author who has made a name for himself with several picture books rooted in Jewish traditions. In Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, one of his most lauded books, he draws from folklore to craft the tale of a clever man who outwits the goblins who have kept the residents of a tiny village from celebrating Hanukkah.

Hershel of Ostropol is a cheerful wanderer whose wits have clearly served him well in his travels. When he learns of the plague of goblins infecting the synagogue upon the hill, he takes it upon himself to outsmart the lot of them, thus reclaiming the sacred holiday for the people down below in the town.

Some of the methods he uses feel very familiar. In particular, I recall a Mickey Mouse book called Mickey Meets the Giant, which appears to have been based on a pre-existing story, in which Mickey fools a giant into believing that he can wring water out of a rock. Something very similar happens in this book, with Hershel crushing a rock that is, in reality, an egg. Another trick, which involves tricking a goblin into gambling away all of his money, reminds me of the game that Captain Kirk makes up in an episode of Star Trek.

That said, this is certainly an original story, and it’s fun to contemplate how the devoutly Jewish Hershel might go about tricking his next nemesis. Kimmel actually skips over three of the days, which is rather a shame, since it’s so amusing to see Hershel outwit those goblins. However, this gives us more time to perceive how much more formidable a foe the Goblin King is. While Hershel always has the upper hand in his previous encounters, it’s obvious that this frightening specter is going to give him some trouble.

One neat thing about the book is the way Kimmel deftly drops references to elements of a traditional Hanukkah celebration. We see Hershel eat pickles and hard-boiled eggs and play the dreidel game with a goblin - though, as Kimmel helpfully points out in a note in the back, Hershel makes up rules that render it impossible for him to lose. Through it all, the golden menorah rests on a small wooden table, and Hershel finds a way to light the candles each night, with the final night the most miraculous feat of all.

This is a Caldecott Honor Book, and it’s easy to see why, as Trina Schart Hyman’s wonderfully detailed illustrations truly bring the characters to life. Her artistic style is realistic, particularly when it comes to depicting humble, hairy Hershel, who nearly always has a twinkle in his eye. The goblins, meanwhile, are marvelously creative, from the tiny purple winged creature who harasses Hershel on the first night to the terrifying, wraith-like final visitor. The paintings are dark, with the blackness of the aged building only pierced by the illumination of a few candles, which emphasizes their importance.

There’s a fair bit of text in Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, so it probably would be best suited to children of at least seven or eight, though it could work as a read-aloud for younger kids. While the story might be especially appreciated by Jewish children, Kimmel’s explanations in the back of the book make this clever story accessible to those from all backgrounds.