What the Reviewers Said
Cited for excellence by:
The Children’s Book Council
National Council for the Social Studies
American Association of Booksellers
Sydney Taylor Book Awards Committee, Association of Jewish Libraries
Skipping Stones Book Awards
2025 Skipping Stones AwardWinner of a 2025 Skipping Stones Book Award
Excerpt from Skipping Stones review:
In some ways the story of The Christmas Menorahs seems hard to believe in this internet age, when people tend to be choosy about who “deserves” solidarity and who might “deserve” hate. In this book, when a Jewish family’s home is attacked because of visible Jewish holiday symbolism, the people of the town choose to stand with their Jewish neighbors, despite not knowing a whole lot about Judaism. They don’t ask first what the Jewish family’s politics were. They don’t try to parse out whether the family did something to “deserve” the attack. They understand that no one deserves rocks thrown through their window during a holiday celebration.
The Jewish family—particularly the child whose window was smashed—is portrayed convincingly in their fear and ambivalence, and commitment to their Jewish practice. … the book shows honestly how important identity is, and how difficult it can be to proudly show who we are when who we are is under attack, even as it also shows how much it helps when we feel solidarity from friends and strangers.
This expanded 30th anniversary edition of the original The Christmas Menorahs (published in 1995) is a needed reminder that we don’t fight hate by posting on the internet, or by canceling people who disagree with us, or talking about how awful an act of hate is. We fight hate by choosing to take risks that can be uncomfortable, potentially putting the safety of homes and our bodies on the line, to show that we will stand with those who are targeted because of their identity—for whatever reason. And most of all, we fight hate, by responding to each other with curiosity and spreading connection and a vision of love.
—Rabbi Ruhi Sophia Motzkin Rubenstein, Temple Beth Israel—Center for Jewish Life, Eugene, Oregon.
Read the full review here
“A true story set in Billings, Montana, of a Jewish family’s house that was vandalized during Hanukkah because of a menorah in their window. Because of understanding people who believed everyone should celebrate their holidays without fear, a town of all faiths united against these acts of hate. A must-have book for all ages—child and adult. Powerful.”
— Pick of the Lists, American Bookseller
“A powerful narrative about how two children, their families, and a community resolve to stand together against bigotry and hatred.”
— A Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies for 1996, chosen by the National Council for the Social Studies and The Children’s Book Council
“Thank you Janice Cohn for all your work to record this inspiring event which occurred in Billings, Montana in 1993…this touching, unforgettable book will inspire generations to come to speak out against hatred. If I had a magic wand, I would wish this book into every household.”
—Skipping Stones Magazine
“[An] inspiring true story.”
—Instructor Magazine
“[An] important story about religious freedom.”
—Library Talk
“Based on a true incident that occurred in Billings, Montana, this story begins when a rock is thrown through a boy’s bedroom window in which a menorah is displayed… A fine book for parents and teachers who want to discuss prejudice and hate crimes with their children. With background information provided in the introduction.”
—Booklist
“In Billings, Montana, a menorah displayed in a boy’s bedroom prompted someone to throw a rock through the window. The resulting true story of one town’s fight against bigotry is the subject of this award-winning book. Cohn’s powerful narrative tells how two children, two families—one Jewish, one Christian—and a community resolve to stand together against the shameful actions that have been happening in their home town. Her story is based on real events that happened in Billings, Montana, in 1993.”
—Scholastic Magazine
“Although this says juvenile literature, I think this is a book that everyone should read or have read to them.”
—State Library Division, State of Utah