Shalom Sesame: Chanukah—The Missing Menorah

This 2010 episode from the spin-off of the popular children's television series Sesame Street focuses on the holiday of Chanukah, with the titular tale centering on Anneliese, who is flustered when her family menorah temporarily goes missing. Young viewers will also meet real-life kids who explain the story of the Maccabees and how God's miracle made the famous olive oil-lit flame burn for eight days, and will learn about related family traditions (including reading the Torah, eating special food, and playing dreidel games). Other segments include an “Extreme Makeover: Temple Edition” bit, a silly animated “Veronica Monica” guide to the holiday, and an interesting visit to an olive farm where a young boy picks fruit and works an old-fashioned press to emulate the antiquated extraction process. Combining catchy songs, solid information, and Muppets (classic characters such as Grover and the Count nicely mesh with new friends such as Oscar the Grouch's cousin Moishe), this is easily recommended. [Note: also newly available is Shalom Sesame: Welcome to Israel.] Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)