December 4, 2018 • Page 10 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com The Bookworm ... For Young Readers New At The Library A Sweet Tale For Hanukkah “Hanukkah Hamster” by Michelle Markel, illustrated by André Ceolin; © 2018, Sleeping Bear Press; 32 pages ——— BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Aha! I found it! Those are words you want to hear when something’s been missing. It’s a relief when the thing that’s disappeared is suddenly back where it belongs. It makes you happy. It makes you sleep better, perhaps. In the new book, “Hanukkah Hamster” by Michelle Markel, illustrated by André Ceolin, it makes new friends. The city was filled with lights and twinkles that hung everywhere, and snow that fell on the streets. Folks were bustling here and there to find the perfect gift, and they needed to travel safely. That’s where Edgar came along. He drove them everywhere in his cab, and that was hard work. So one night, Edgar took a break, crawled into the back seat of his cab, and tried to take a quick nap. But “Ohhhf!” something jumped onto his shirt. “Ayyee!” something bumped against his face. Edgar opened his eyes, looked down, and there was a hamster! As he scratched the hamster’s back, Edgar noticed that it seemed to be a friendly little fellow. Edgar set the creature in his lunch bag and tried to figure out who might have forgotten a hamster in the back seat of his cab. He reported it to his cab dispatch, but nobody had been missing a furry little pet so he took the hamster home and made a bed for it in a cardboard box. Then he recited Hanukkah blessings, lit two candles on the menorah, and went to bed. In the morning, Edgar checked but nobody reported a missing hamster. That night, he made a special salad for him and his new roommate and he gave the hamster a name. “Chickpea” is what he called it, although Edgar knew that the hamster probably had another name somewhere. He even took pictures to share with his family in Israel. He Here’s what’s new at the Yankton Community Library this week: ADULT BOOKS • The Real Lolita by Sarah Weinman, nonfiction • Ship of Fools by Tucker Carlson, nonfiction • The Man from the Train by Bill James, nonfiction • A Mind Unraveled by Kurt Eichenwald, nonfiction • One Heart at a Time by Delilah, nonfiction • Full Disclosure by Stormy Daniels, nonfiction • My Love Story by Tina Turner, nonfiction • Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown, nonfiction • Dear America, Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Vargas, nonfiction • The Ordinary Leader by Randy Grieser, nonfiction • The Library Book by Susan Orlean, nonfiction • Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke, fiction • Foundation; Foundation and Empire; Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov, fiction • Past Tense by Lee Child, fiction • The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz, fiction • Lethal White by Robert Galbraith, fiction • Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, fiction • Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci, fiction • Uneasy Lies the Crown by Tasha Alexander, fiction told Chickpea all about Tel Aviv. And then one evening, while he was dropping off a customer, Edgar drove into a neighborhood that looked very familiar. He saw a woman and a small boy who seemed familiar, too, and he had a feeling that made him sad. Hanukkah would be happy this year. At least it would for someone … Nobody should be alone at the holidays. You want friends and family close — but that’s not always possible. For kids who are just learning it, “Hanukkah Hamster” shows that friendship comes in many forms. It’s done in the sweetest way possible. Edgar is an immigrant, a fact that author Michelle Markel doesn’t belabor. Instead, it’s just a nice bit of storyline, serving to subtly explain why he’s alone and lonely. Even so, tradition is important to that character and to the story itself; add an adorable but silent hamster, thanks to illustrator André Ceolin, and you’ve got a holiday charmer. Kids who celebrate Hanukkah will certainly love this book, but it’s also a good one for any child ages 3-5 — especially those who enjoy extended family each holiday season. If “Hanukkah Hamster” is the kind of book you’re searching for, you’ve found it. LARGE PRINT BOOKS • A Christmas Prayer by Wanda Brunstetter, fiction • The Noel Diary by Richard Evans, fiction • The Sugarhouse Blues by Mariah Stewart, fiction • Desperate Girls by Laura Griffin, fiction • Everything She Didn’t Say by Jane Kirkpatrick, fiction • Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins, fiction JUNIOR BOOKS • The Faithful Spy by John Hendrix, nonfiction • Usborne 101 Optical Illusions by Sam Taplin, nonfiction • Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey, fiction EASY READING BOOKS • Lego Adventure in the Real World: Volcanoes and Other Forces of Nature, nonfiction • Lego Adventure in the Real World: Farm, nonfiction • Lego City: All Hands on Deck! By Marilyn Easton, fiction • Go, Otto, Go! By David Milgrim, fiction 119th Christmas Bird Count Scheduled For Region The 119th Christmas Bird Count will be held from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5. Dates have been set for some of the local counts to be conducted in this area. Data collected by bird observers allows researchers and biologists to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across the nation. Region events include: • Ponca State Park Christmas Bird Count — Friday, Dec. 14. Those interested in participating should meet at the Park’s Resource Center at 7:30 a.m. or call Bill Huser at 712-574-3107 for more information. • Sioux City Christmas Bird Count — Saturday, Dec. 15. Contact Jerry Probst at: probsthoney@aol.com or 712-4908256 for information. • Yankton Christmas Bird Count — Sunday, Dec. 16. Contact Roger Dietrich at 605660-6247 for information. • Westfield (Iowa) Christmas Bird Count — Thursday, Dec. 20, beginning at 8 a.m. Contact Dotty Zales at 712540-0952 or zales66@hotmail. com for more information. • Ida County Christmas Bird Count — Saturday, Jan. 5. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Education Center in Moorhead Park. Dinner at noon. Wrap-up and adding up the numbers starts at 3:30 p.m. Contact Don Poggensee at donpog@netllc.net or 712-3693454. Dimock Dairy Gift Boxes $15-$46 Gift Boxes Discounts on orders over 50 boxes ORDER ARL r 8 Ere DecembeY ! fo be th ADULT DVD’S • Longmire: Sixth and Final Season ——— Did you know that you can reserve an item from home? Staff will then notify you as soon as the item is available! Lincoln School Presents Holiday Musical It is performance time at Lincoln Elementary School. Students in grades 4-5 will present their holiday program, “North Pole Musical,” on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Yankton Let Our Family Business Keep Yours In The Go With: We ship for you! • Farm Filters • Hydraulic Hoses • Bearings & Seals Cox Auto Variety Gift Box 1007 Broadway Ave Yankton, SD 605•665•4494 Earn as much as $400+ this month & $120 this week 9pc or 12pc Small or Large Gift Box 4pc or 6pc High School theatre. The “North Pole Musical” was written by John Jacobson and Mac Huff. Auditions are under way for the 400th anniversary of “North Pole Musical,” and everyone is in a panic. The dancing reindeer don’t know what to do with Rudolph and his four left hooves. The elves are tired of always getting the short end of the stick and are singing the blues. The snowmen are worried about the funky hot lights, and the toys are trying to do the entire “Nutcracker Suite” in three minutes. The annual Christmas show keeps getting bigger and bigger. 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