Miracles still occur for those who are ready for them

A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, with each side decorated with a Hebrew letter. The four letters form an acronym that stands for (in English) "A great miracle happened here," referring to a miracle that occurred during the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE. A popular game is played using a dreidel during Hanukkah.

In "The Dreidel That Wouldn't Spin," a shopkeeper had purchased a beautiful dreidel that he hoped to sell for a handsome profit as Hanukkah approached. With its unique beauty, it was easy to sell, with a wealthy man buying it for his demanding daughter, but they soon returned, demanding a refund, saying the dreidel didn't work. After taking the dreidel back, a woman and her son chose the dreidel, but they also returned, wanting their money back. Strangely enough, the dreidel worked fine for the shopkeeper, but it would not spin for the customers who bought it. Only when a poor man and his son entered the shop did the shopkeeper discover the magic of the dreidel.

The author and illustrator have created a wonderful story about the spirit of Hanukkah. The dreidel represents a great miracle from many centuries past. In the story, when the dreidel passed into the hands of a young boy who was grateful to receive it, it transformed into another miracle, reminding the shopkeeper that the spirit of Hanukkah truly could not be bought. It's an enjoyable and inspirational story for children and grownups alike.

A review copy of the book was provided by the publisher.