The Parakeet Named Dreidel

In this newly illustrated tale from Singer's 1980 collection The Power of Light, a stray parakeet appears at the window of a Brooklyn family on the cold and snowy eighth night of Hanukkah. That's odd enough, but this is no ordinary bird: it loves to play with dreidels (hence the name the family gives it) and speaks Yiddish--especially the phrase "Zeldele, geh schlofen" ("Zeldele, go to sleep"). Nine years with Dreidel as a beloved pet pass, and the family's son goes to college, where he falls in love with a "beautiful and gifted" girl who turns out to be none other than the parrot's original owner herself. Newcomer Berkson contributes largely straightforward ink-and-watercolor interpretations of the action, but the wit and wonder that has always animated Singer's matter-of-factly magical world shines through. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)

K-Gr 3--In this picture book version of a story first published by Singer as part of a collection, a father relates the story of the time, 10 years ago, that his young son David rescued a parakeet that appeared on their snowy windowsill on the last evening of Hanukkah. Dreidel, as the family named him, is a friendly, tame bird that even speaks a bit of Yiddish ("Zeldele, go to sleep"); the family is overjoyed when no one answers any of their notices advertising a lost bird. Ten years go by, with Dreidel a beloved family member, and then David goes off to college--where he tells the story of Dreidel at a party and a young woman exclaims, "I am this Zeldele!" David and Zelda get married and Dreidel the matchmaker goes off to live with them. VERDICT Friendly cartoon watercolor illustrations and the father's warm, understated narration make this a wonderful choice for a family lapsit and a read-aloud over the holiday season or anytime.--Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library