Have you ever had a bad hair day? If so, you have to read The Story of Hanukkah Howie.

Howie has very strange spiked hair, but only during the eight days of Hanukkah. By day eight, in fact, there are “… nine spikes in all, four at right, four at left, one in center so tall”. Howie’s Mom gradually realizes that Howie's hair looks like a menorah — the nine-candled centerpiece for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. But just when she wonders what she can do, Hanukkah ends and the spikes disappear. Was the hair-spiking a one-time event? Not a chance. Each year at Hanukkah, Howie's hair springs into spikes. Since they are impossible to control, over the years both Hannah and Howie search for possible remedies. Readers learn that “…the only solution that seemed to be there… was for Howie to cover his very strange hair.”

This clever book, besides being hugely entertaining, presents a gentle message that, regardless of our personal appearance and our differences we each have a role in this life – we each have a place in the world. For Howie, his hair and its particular uniqueness ends up being the crown jewel of his personality! I personally love this story. I was a little worried that it was going to be about being Jewish (and we are Catholic), and my kids wouldn't have a clue. Instead, they found it extremely entertaining, and we had a great conversation about Hanukkah and what menorah actually is. The book was easy enough for Madison to read on her own. The love the story and message it tells. The illustrations are top notch too.

Since my family loved The Story of Hanukkah Howie, I have arranged for one lucky reader to get their own copy. Here is what you need to do: