Chanuka At Bubbe's; Lights

Chanuka at Bubbe's is a clever, entertaining puppet show which introduces young children to the Jewish celebration of Chanukah. The story opens with Zachary and Muffin going to visit their Bubbe (grandmother). Accompanying them is their non-Jewish friend Chester. Arriving at Bubbe's Boarding House, they are greeted by a wild assortment of tenants: Anton, the egomaniac; Rhino, the bully; and Zelda, the ever hopeful. Bubbe is busy preparing the celebratory feast, and, in between making delicious goodies and playing dreidel, she tells the children and guests the story of the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in 165 B.C. - a decisive win for the Jewish people which is annually commemorated with the 8-day festival of Chanukah. These "flashbacks" are acted out with puppets in amusing and endearing skits. The show concludes with the lighting of the Menorah. A witty script, wonderful original songs, and superb production values make this an excellent introduction to the subject for children. Lights, designed by Faith Hubley, shares the strengths and drawbacks of many Hubley animated productions: namely, the animation is wonderful to look at, but the metaphoric nature of the storytelling will ensure that children won't understand what the program is about. Judd Hirsch narrates the story of how, in early Jerusalem, the Jewish people were pressured by the Greeks to adopt both their false gods and their alphabet. Originally presented on television, the program attempts to tell the story of Hanuka (a variant of Chanukah, or Chanuka) by symbolizing the letters of the Jewish alphabet as "lights"-which, in turn, represent the candles of the Menorah (though this last point isn't made clear). Jewish families would enjoy and appreciate this symbolic tale of Hanuka, and because of its excellent production values, it is recommended. Chanuka at Bubbe's, on the other hand, will have a much wider appeal, and it is highly recommended. (Available from: Classic Telepublishing, P.O. Box 426, West Simsbury, CT 06092.)