''Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins'' is a children's picture book written by

Eric Kimmel Eric A. Kimmel (born 1946) is an American author of more than 50 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book ''Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins'' (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners ''The Chanukkah ...

and illustrated by

Trina Schart Hyman Trina Schart Hyman (April 8, 1939 – November 19, 2004) was an American illustrator of children's books. She illustrated over 150 books, including fairy tales and Arthurian legends. She won the 1985 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustrat ...

in 1989. It features the Jewish

folk hero A folk hero or national hero is a type of hero – real, fictional or mythological – with their name, personality and deeds embedded in the popular consciousness of a people, mentioned frequently in folk songs, folk tales and other folklore; an ...

and

trickster In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwi ...

figure

Hershel of Ostropol Hershel of Ostropol ( yi, הערשעלע אסטראפאלער, translit=Hershele Ostropoler, Little Hersh of Ostropol; 1757–1811) is a prominent figure in Jewish humor. Hershel was a prankster from Ostropol, Crown Poland (now Ukraine), who live ...

challenging and defeating through guile a series of goblins over the course of the eight nights of

Hanukkah or English translation: 'Establishing' or 'Dedication' (of the Temple in Jerusalem) , nickname = , observedby = Jews , begins = 25 Kislev , ends = 2 Tevet or 3 Tevet , celebrations = Lighting candles each night. ...

, culminating in a showdown with the King of the Goblins himself on the final night. The book won a

Caldecott Honor The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...

in 1990. In 1999, Shari Aronson of Z Puppets Rosenschnoz received permission from Eric Kimmel to adapt the book ''Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins'' for the stage. This adaptation has since been produced four times by Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company, with puppets by Chris Griffith winning a 2009 MN Ivey Award, and multiple times by theater companies across the U.S.

References

{{child-picture-book-stub American picture books Jewish American literature 1989 children's books Fictional goblins Caldecott Honor-winning works Hanukkah children's books