Hello there! Welcome to a fun story adventure. Today, we’re going to explore a book called “Hanukkah in Alaska,” written by Barbara Brown and illustrated by Stacey Schuett. Let’s dive into this exciting tale together!
In Alaska, winter is a special time, but we have to be careful because of the moose. Moose are big animals, and they can get startled easily. If they do, they might kick, and their kicks are strong enough to dent a car! So, when we go outside, we always look both ways to make sure no moose are around. If we see one while playing, we hug a tree because a moose can’t step on us or knock us over if we’re hugging a tree.
Winter in Alaska is also very dark. The sun doesn’t come up until snack time at school, and it gets dark again right after lunch. Sometimes, the snow piles up so high that it covers the windows, making it even darker. Moose like to walk on our shoveled driveways because the snow is too deep for them. One moose decided to live in our backyard, nibbling on our trees and sleeping there. I tried giving him carrots and cookies, but he really loves the tree with my blue swing on it. I’m worried he might take my swing!
Even though it’s Hanukkah, and I get presents from my family, the dark days and the moose make me a bit grumpy. Every time I light a candle on our menorah, I see the moose too close to my swing. My mom and I try giving him apples, but he just keeps eating our trees. One night, as I light the last Hanukkah candle, my dad says he has something to show me outside. I bundle up in warm clothes, even though it’s freezing cold and dark.
Outside, my dad points to the sky, and I see something amazing! The sky is filled with pink, purple, and orange lights swirling around. These are the northern lights, or aurora borealis. They light up the dark sky like a magical festival of lights. I’m so amazed by the lights that I almost forget about the moose.
But then, I see the moose pulling on my swing! I have an idea and run inside to grab something. I come back with my hands full and wave it at the moose. He sniffs and follows me as I lay down a trail of treats. I lead him out of the yard and down the driveway. The moose is finally gone!
My parents are surprised and ask what I gave the moose. I tell them it was latkes! Latkes are delicious potato pancakes we eat during Hanukkah. My dad makes them with zucchini to make them healthier. If you haven’t tried latkes, you should! Just make sure a grown-up helps you because they are cooked in hot oil.
And that’s the end of our story. Hanukkah in Alaska can be full of surprises and even a little bit of magic!
Moose Safety Role-Play: Gather your friends or family and pretend you’re in Alaska. One person can be the moose, and the others can practice what to do if they see a moose. Remember to look both ways and hug a tree! Discuss why it’s important to be careful around moose and how you can stay safe.
Create Your Own Northern Lights: Use colored tissue paper, a flashlight, and a dark room to create your own version of the northern lights. Cut the tissue paper into different shapes and colors, then shine the flashlight through them onto a wall. Talk about how the real northern lights are formed and why they are special.
Latke Cooking Adventure: With the help of a grown-up, try making your own latkes at home. Use potatoes and zucchini, just like in the story. While cooking, discuss why latkes are a part of Hanukkah and what other foods are special to different holidays. Remember to be safe around hot oil!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi! Welcome to Storyline Online, brought to you by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. I’m Molly Ephraim, and today we’ll be reading “Hanukkah in Alaska,” by Barbara Brown and illustrated by Stacey Schuett. I really love reading, especially to younger people. If you have a little brother, sister, cousin, or even a younger classmate, try reading to them—it’s really fun!
In Alaska, during winter, we have to be careful of moose. We look both ways when we go out the door to make sure there are no moose around. Moose are very large animals, and they can kick things that surprise them or make them angry. Their kicks are strong enough to dent a car. My mother drives slowly in the winter, keeping an eye out for moose. When my friends and I are playing outside and a moose comes along, we hug a tree. A moose can’t step on you or knock you over if you’re hugging a tree.
Also, during winter in Alaska, it gets dark—not just at night, but almost all the time. It doesn’t get light until it’s already snack time at school, and it’s dark again practically right after lunch. Daytime is only about five hours long. Sometimes, when there’s so much snow that it covers the windows, daylight can barely peek in. The snow piles up everywhere, getting so deep that moose have trouble walking in it. They like to use people’s shoveled driveways and paths. That’s why a moose lives in our backyard. He wandered up our driveway, found a good spot to nibble at our trees, and decided to stay. He sleeps in our yard and eats our trees. I try throwing carrots to him, even cookies, but he really likes the tree with my blue swing on it. I’m worried about my swing.
Once, we saw a moose walking around town with a swing in his antlers. He got tangled and just tore the whole swing away. I think the dark and that moose are making me a bit grumpy because even Hanukkah hasn’t cheered me up. My friends and I pretend to be dreidels spinning in the snow, and when the mail lady comes, she always has another present for me from my aunts and uncles. (Did you know that everywhere else from Alaska is called “Outside”?) But every time I light a new candle in our menorah, I look out the window, and it’s still dark, and that moose is still there, too close to my swing and eating our trees.
My mother and I throw some apples, hoping he’ll like them instead, but he just watches them fall and eats more tree. One night, as I am lighting the last Hanukkah candle, my father says, “Let’s go outside. I have something to show you.” “With the moose there?” “Don’t worry, we’ll stay far away.” I put on my long underwear and two layers of socks, thick baggy pants, a sweatshirt, a snowsuit, two layers of mittens, and a hat. Still, it’s freezing cold outside, and it’s very dark, and I do not like being anywhere near that moose. I want that moose away from my swing!
“Dad, what are we waiting for?” “Just wait. You’ll see.” But he’s looking at the sky. I’m looking at that moose. Mom says, “Maybe we can try some fresh spinach. Maybe he’ll leave your swing alone for something green.” But the spinach doesn’t work, and I’m freezing. Dad says, “This is a perfect night. You’ll see.” Suddenly, Dad points up to the sky. There are pink, purple, and orange ribbons of light! The sky is full of color, swirling and shining. Against the dark sky, the lights are bright and beautiful. I have never seen anything like this—so much light, filling the sky, coloring it.
“They’re called the northern lights,” Dad says. “Aurora borealis. They happen especially up here in Alaska, but only when the sky is just right. Our very own Hanukkah Festival of Lights.” It looks like ribbons of wax, all the candles from all the menorahs melting into the dark, lighting it up. I stare at those lights so hard that I don’t even notice the moose sticking his head through my swing. Next thing I know, the moose is yanking on the chain, pulling on the whole tree. I can’t stand it. That moose will tear everything up.
But then I have an idea. I run into the house and come back outside with my hands full. I wave what I have at the moose, and he sniffs, turning his head away from the swing. I back up, laying what I have down in the snow. The moose stretches his head, reaches for it. I keep backing up, laying more down, and the moose follows me! Out of the yard, down the driveway, AWAY! I lay the last batch down and race back into our yard. I look at the sky, at the lights. I’m so happy to see those lights. I’m so happy that moose is gone.
My parents are surprised. “What did you feed him?” they ask. “What did he like so much?” “Latkes,” I answer. Hanukkah can be pretty funny in Alaska, and miracles can happen in a lot of different ways. And that’s the end. If you’ve never had latkes, you have to try them. They’re pancakes made out of potatoes. But make sure you have a grown-up to help you out because you have to use very hot oil. My dad makes them with zucchini, so they are a little healthier. They are really tasty.
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any unnecessary details or informal language.
