ClassX Video Lessons Grade Grade 2 READ ALOUD | The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman | CHILDREN’S BOOK
Welcome to a fun story adventure! Today, we’re going to hear about some very special potato pancakes called latkes. These latkes are part of a holiday called Hanukkah, which is a time when people celebrate a miracle that happened a long, long time ago.
Once upon a time, in a place called Judea (which is now known as Israel), a group of brave people called the Maccabees wanted to practice their religion freely. They won a big battle, and a miracle happened! A little bit of oil in their temple lasted for eight whole days. That’s why, during Hanukkah, people cook yummy latkes in oil to remember this miracle.
On the first night of Hanukkah, a lady named Rebecca Bloom was busy making latkes for a big party at her synagogue. Everyone loved Rebecca’s latkes because they were crispy, tasty, and perfectly round.
As Rebecca cooked, she sang a happy song. But suddenly, something amazing happened! One, two, three latkes jumped out of the pan and rolled right out the door, singing, “We roll to see the town, and you can’t catch us!”
Rebecca was surprised and worried. “Oh no! We need those latkes for the party!” she exclaimed. She turned off the stove, grabbed a tray, and ran after the runaway latkes.
The latkes rolled past the rabbi, who was reading a book. “Stop, latkes! We need you for the party tonight!” he called. But the latkes just kept rolling, singing their song.
Next, they rolled past the cantor, who was practicing music. She tried to stop them too, but the latkes didn’t listen. Soon, the rabbi, the cantor, and Rebecca were all chasing the latkes through the town!
Two boys playing ball saw the latkes and tried to stop them by throwing their ball. “Latke ball!” they shouted. But the latkes kept rolling, and the boys joined the chase.
The latkes even rolled past the mayor’s office. The mayor tried to stop them, but the latkes just sang their song and rolled on. Now, the mayor was chasing them too!
Finally, the latkes rolled past the police station. Sue and Harry, the police officers, saw them and decided to join the chase. “Stop, latkes! Stop in the name of the law!” they called.
The latkes rolled all the way to a river called Applesauce River. Everyone shouted, “No!” as the latkes plopped into the water. But then, something magical happened! The river turned into applesauce, the perfect place for the latkes to land.
Rebecca quickly picked up the latkes and put them on her tray. There was just enough for everyone to have a taste. Even after their big adventure, the latkes tasted delicious!
That night, everyone gathered at the synagogue for a wonderful Hanukkah celebration. They lit the menorah, played games, danced, and sang. And of course, they enjoyed lots of crispy, tasty latkes!
We hope you enjoyed this story about the runaway latkes. If you want to hear more fun stories, be sure to join us again. Have a happy day!
Latke Art: Create your own paper latkes! Use brown construction paper to cut out circles that look like latkes. Then, use crayons or markers to draw faces on them. Imagine what your latke would say if it could talk! Share your latke’s story with your friends or family.
Oil Experiment: With the help of an adult, explore how oil is used in cooking. Pour a small amount of oil into a pan and observe how it changes when heated. Discuss why oil is important for cooking latkes and how it relates to the Hanukkah story. Remember to be safe and only do this with adult supervision!
Latke Chase Game: Play a game of tag where one person is the “latke” and everyone else is trying to catch them, just like in the story. The “latke” can sing a fun song while they run. Take turns being the latke and see who can run the fastest!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello, I’m Brad.
Hi, I’m Craig. Welcome to Storytime with Brian! Remember, if you like what you see, subscribe, give us a like, or leave a comment. You can ask us anything!
Ryan, do you say potato or potato? Tell us in the comments.
Today’s book is “The Runaway Latkes” by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Paul Janowitz. Let’s get started!
**The Runaway Latkes** by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Paul Janowitz.
Note: Over two thousand years ago in ancient Judea (roughly present-day Israel), a group of Jews led by Judah Maccabee fought King Antiochus of Syria for the right to practice their religion freely. The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabees’ victory and the miracle that followed. Inside the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, one day’s lamp oil burned brightly for eight days and nights. Today, Hanukkah latkes are cooked in oil to commemorate that miracle.
The first night of Hanukkah was just a few hours away. Rebecca Bloom was at the synagogue making potato pancakes (latkes) for the big Hanukkah party. Everyone agreed that Rebecca made the crispiest, tastiest, perfectly round latkes in town.
Plop! Plop! She dropped each latke in a big pan of hot oil. Sizzle, flip, sizzle, flip. As she cooked, she sang to herself. Rebecca had just finished her first pan full of latkes when, to her amazement, one, two, three latkes jumped from the oil right onto the floor. They rolled out the kitchen door singing, “We roll to see the town, and you can’t catch us!”
“Oh my!” exclaimed Rebecca. “We need these latkes for our party tonight!”
But the latkes did not stop. They sang, “Big and round, crisp and brown, off we roll to see the town, and you can’t catch us!”
So Rebecca turned off the stove, grabbed a tray, and ran after the latkes.
The latkes rolled along past the door to the rabbi’s study. When the rabbi saw them, he closed his book and called out, “Stop, latkes! We need you for a party tonight!”
But the latkes did not stop. They sang, “Big and round, crisp and brown, off we roll to see the town, and you can’t catch us!”
So the rabbi chased the latkes, and Rebecca chased him. The latkes rolled along past the room where the cantor was practicing scales. When she saw what was happening, she changed her tune. “Stop that!” she called in a sweet voice. “We need you for a party tonight!”
But the latkes did not stop. They sang, “Big and round, crisp and brown, off we roll to see the town, and you can’t catch us!”
So the cantor chased the latkes, and the rabbi chased the cantor, and Rebecca chased the rabbi.
The latkes rolled along out the front door of the synagogue. Two boys were playing ball, waiting for the celebration to begin. When they saw the runaway latkes, they stopped throwing the ball at each other and threw it at the latkes instead, trying to knock them over.
“Latke ball!” they shouted.
But the latkes did not stop. They sang, “Big and round, crisp and brown, off we roll to see the town, and you can’t catch us!”
So the boys chased the latkes, and the cantor chased the boys, and the rabbi chased the cantor, and Rebecca chased the rabbi through the town.
The latkes rolled up to the mayor’s office. He hurried to see what all the noise was about. “Stop, latkes! By order of the mayor!” he proclaimed loudly.
But the latkes did not stop. They sang, “Big and round, crisp and brown, off we roll to see the town, and you can’t catch us!”
Now the mayor was involved, and this was getting out of hand.
The mayor chased the latkes, and the boys chased the mayor, and the cantor chased the boys, and the rabbi chased the cantor, and Rebecca chased the rabbi.
The latkes rolled down the sidewalk in front of the police station, where Sue and her partner Harry were just getting off for the day.
“What’s that?” asked Sue. “Looks like trouble.”
“Not trouble, latkes!” answered Harry, licking his lips. “Let’s take them in for questioning!”
“Stop, latkes! Stop in the name of the law!” Sue called out.
But the latkes did not stop. They sang, “Big and round, crisp and brown, off we roll to see the town, and you can’t catch us!”
The police were after them now.
Just ahead of them at the edge of town was a cool river called Applesauce River. The latkes rolled straight toward it.
“No!” cried everyone.
But just as they plopped into the river, kerplunk! A miracle happened—a modern-day Hanukkah miracle! The water in Applesauce River turned into real applesauce, the perfect bath for three crispy latkes.
Rebecca blinked. Then one, two, three, she plucked the latkes right out of the river and put them on her tray. There were just enough latkes and just enough applesauce for each person to have one bite. Even after the pancakes’ long trip through town, they tasted heavenly.
“Just one bite,” the mayor sighed. “I suppose one bite will have to do.”
“Of course you will!” Rebecca answered. “This very evening, you’re all invited back to the synagogue for a Hanukkah celebration!”
Sure enough, at the synagogue that night, Rebecca made certain there were plenty of latkes for everyone who came to the party. They lit the menorah, spun dreidels, danced, and sang late into the night: “Crisp and brown, big and round, better latkes can be found!”
What a party! What a night! Everyone was happy the latkes got to celebrate, and everyone got some.
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