HannAfter I finished reading, Red and Green and Blue and White, I realized I have read it at least once before. It is a quiet book and one that did not seem to hit “hard” on mine, or I would assume a lot of peoples, radar after it first came out. Yet, it is a nice find regardless of when you do find Lee Wind’s holiday picture book.
The two main characters are celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah when this based on a true incident starts. After a rock is thrown through the window of the Jewish family’s home, two seemingly small acts (a boy who does not want to show fear or shame about being Jewish, and a girl who creates a gesture of friendship) start a town wide showing of camaraderie and togetherness.
This fictionalized story of the true meaning of the season is sweet, not too pushy, but gets the point across. Busy illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky captures the tone, and message. They are colorful but not neon-hot-popping-off-the-page colorful. Details are simple, but not simplistic. Sometimes things are “blurry,” but you can make out the images. It is a book you feel as much as see and read because of the art.
And while this is considered as a holiday book, it is a book that could be also an anytime book. All ages can read, but due to the lack of traditional action, the younger or active child might not want to sit and listen. The older child (up to 8 or 9) could read solo, or as a classroom group read-to.
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