The text is almost background music for the pictures, which are worth at least a thousand words. Every building, car, boy, and bicycle makes its presence known even within the blur and flurry, reminding the reader to put an ear to the tin can-and listen to the symphony of the city. With simplicity and honesty, poet Karla Kuskin allows the history and traditions accompanying the Chanukah celebration to be revealed to a young Jewish family and their non-Jewish guest. The story of Chanukah is one of faith, courage in the face of insurmountable odds, and victory. Kuskin presents these themes in such a way as to inspire not only sympathetic feelings, but thoughtful questioning and debate as well.
Every poem is a discovery, for the poet who creates and for the reader who appreciates.
Karla Kuskin is a star of this form. Ms. Kuskin is also the illustrator. The Upstairs Cat Karla Kuskin Illustrated by Howard Fine Upstairs cat and downstairs cat are quite different creatures who refuse to recognize the similarities they do share. This is a plea for peace written in clever verse. To stay up to date on new books by this author, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database.