Welcome

Posted on January 31, 2018 by simonebloomnathan

Welcome to my website, home of Eight Candles and A Tree, a book for all families that celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. There is a growing number of interfaith families in the US today, with almost sixty percent of Jews and a third of all Americans marrying out of their faith. This is a much needed children’s picture book that shows how one interfaith family celebrates their holidays.

A recommendation

Posted on December 17, 2017 by simonebloomnathan

Thanks to Rachel Kamin for recommending Eight Candles and a Tree on this radio program. (Start at 11:30 for the interfaith book recommendations.)

Thanks Huff Post Canada

Posted on December 14, 2017 by simonebloomnathan

for recommending my book for kids who celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. Here’s the link.

Time-tested Latke Recipe

Posted on December 4, 2017 by simonebloomnathan

Growing up in a Jewish family in Johannesburg, South Africa, my mother always made latkes made from the International Goodwill recipe book — her “go to” book for our family’s meals. Here is the latke recipe:

3 medium-sized potatoes, small grated onion, 2 eggs, 5 Tbs flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, dash of pepper, oil for frying.

Grate the potatoes and onions. Add salt, pepper, eggs, flour and baking powder and mix. Drop by tablespoons into deep hot oil into which a piece of onion has been added. Fry to golden brown on each side. Put in oven to dry and crisp for about five minutes. Serve with applesauce. Latkes

Coloring Sheet

Posted on November 27, 2017 by simonebloomnathan

The holidays are coming up. This year Hanukkah begins on December 12th. Get young kids (and grownups) busy with this coloring sheet of the book’s cover.

8 Candles ColoringSheet

Thanks, Erica

Posted on December 27, 2016 by simonebloomnathan

Thank you to to Erica Astrove at the Fletcher School in Cambridge for reading Eight Candles and a Tree to her class.

Brookline Booksmith

Posted on December 7, 2016 by simonebloomnathan

So pleased to see my book in the “Seasonal Books” section of the best bookstore around! Thanks Booksmith for the third year of selling Eight Candles and a Tree. If you can’t make it to the store, you can purchase the book here.