When Rachel's mother receives a phone call asking if Aunt Tilly and her seven grandchildren can attend the family Hanukkah dinner, she immediately agrees, only to discover that there are only three potatoes (and no eggs) left in the house! How will she make enough latkes for everyone? Rachel suggests that they ask their neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg, for the ingredients, and use their need as an excuse to invite her to join their celebration. But Mrs. Greenberg, though she has a heart of gold, is also "as stubborn as an ox," and doesn't want to be a bother. Can Rachel find a way to show her how much she is wanted...?

An engaging holiday story with a message - that Hanukkah is a time for celebrating with family and friends, and that sometimes it is necessary to keep trying, when attempting to do a kindness - The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes is a book that assumes some basic knowledge of Hanukkah. This is a contemporary story about the celebration of the "Festival of Lights," not an explanation of its origin, but if one bears that in mind, it makes for a fun little picture-book. Nancy Cote's colorful gouache artwork, while not really in a style I find compelling, is engaging enough. All in all, a pleasant Hanukkah tale - enough to convince me to track down the "sequel," Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah. ( )

Story of how a young girl found a way to include her elderly neighbor in her family's celebration