Story Time: The Hanukkah Mice

Today's Story The Mice of Hanukkah by Steven Croll illustrated by Michelle Shapiro It was the first night of Hanukkah, the mouse family ran out of their burrow and went up the basement stairs and watched Mr. Silman, one of the big people, lift the Shamus candle, say the prayers and light the first Hanukkah candle now it's

time

for Rachel to open her first Hanukkah gift he said Rachel couldn't wait she unwrapped the large box in the middle of the room and gasped as she see an exquisitely carved dollhouse with a porch and white furniture. edge that wrapped around the outside like icing on a wedding cake each window had a set of little lace curtains it's beautiful Rachel said can I play with it now? not until after dinner said Mrs.

Silman Mindy Mouse pulled her little brother's tail Mitchell is just the right size for us she whispered yes you're right Mitchell said the mouse family watched the Sans eat their dinner Christmas, they watched Rachel play with the dollhouse after dessert, they ran after Mr. Silman as he carried the dollhouse to Rachel's room, they watched as Rachel finally fell asleep and Mindy pushed Mitchell, let's explore, said Mom, hurry up, said Dad, the

mice

were sliding into the dollhouse, this place would be really cool if it had some furniture, said Mitchell, look at me, I can do somersaults, Mindy said the second night.

Hanukkah, the mouse family watched Mr. Silman light the second candle Rachel opened another Hanukkah gift, it was a miniature wingback chair with a small matching stool, perfect for little feet, Rachel said when the mouse family Mice visited the dollhouse that same night, the wingback chair was sitting in the living room, Dad settled in with a smile on the third night, Rachel's gift was a small sofa, she laughed just right for a small family and, sure enough, later that night, the mouse family found him next to the wing chair, look at me. Mindy said jumping up and down on the cushions as Mitchell threw a pillow at her on the fourth night.

Rachel received a set of small plates perfect for little Ly. She said that when the mouse family saw the dishes later, they had little keys with applesauce on them. them mmm said Mitchell I wonder where those keys came from mom said on the fifth night there was a dresser in the bedroom with some Hanukkah gelt on it and on the sixth night two beds appeared, each with a brush on the pillow, hey, Mindy said, giving it a whirl, Mitchell said, turning the other. I wonder where all this came from, Mom said. Then on night number seven, Rachel's gift was a table and chairs.

The mouse family found them right in the middle of the family's dining room. the dollhouse the table was covered with a special Hanukkah cloth I wonder where that tablecloth came from said mom on the last night of Hanukkah Rachel's eighth gift was a perfect new miniature Manora she said when the Manora appeared on the dining room table the dollhouse along with a festive meal the mouse family gathered around our own manora for our own Hanukkah said Dad and so much wonderful food lit the eight electric candles and said the prayers Happy Hanukkah said Mindy and Mitchell happy Hanukkah said Dad Me I wonder where all this came from, Mom said, and under the covers Rachel smiled at the end.