Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas

Instead of frying latkes on Hanukkah, the family in Ehrenberg and Sarkar’s sweet cross-cultural story makes dosas (a savory pancake served with condiments and side dishes) to honor Mom’s heritage. “Making Indian food that my mom ate as kid for a Jewish holiday that my dad grew up with—that was a lucky combination,” says the boy who candidly narrates. But he is also being sorely tested by his younger sister’s mischievousness: if she won’t behave will they ever get the dosas made—and get to eat them? Ehrenberg’s storytelling leaves little to readers’ imaginations, but there’s something comforting about the steady step-by-step trajectory of the text and Sarkar’s stylish cartooning. Readers will also appreciate how the narrator turns a customized version of “I Have a Little Dreidel” (“I have a little dosa...”) into a sister-wrangling tool. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Carrie Howland, Empire Literary. (Oct.)