The Magic Dreidels: A Hanukkah Story

Kimmel transplants the folktale ""The Tablecloth, the Donkey and the Stick"" to an old-world shtetl, depicted by first-time illustrator Krenina in skewed planes of indigos and violets with a few nods to Chagall. The story involves a boy, a brass dreidel dropped down a well, a goblin who procures magic dreidels that spin out latkes and gelt, and a thieving neighbor. The internal logic, unfortunately, goes haywire--this is more like a sketch for a story than a fully evoked tale. Kimmel fans should stick with his Hanukkah title Asher and the Capmakers (1993). Ages 4-8. (Sept.)