Author Margie Blumberg in her book No Naptime for Janie! A Hanukkah Tale takes the reader along a joyful and fun-filled journey with little Janie. The first night of Hanukkah is just hours away, and Janie's mom has suggested she take a nap while she and Janie's brother go on a last-minute shopping trip. But Janie can't fall asleep. Janie's nana is happy about that because she would like to show her granddaughter how to bake a pie for the holiday. They bake the pie, then realize they forgot they needed sweet apricot jam to spread on top of the pie. Looking high and low until they were exhausted, they finally found it secure in a basket on a shelf. After eating the pie and making such a mess, energetic Janie helps to clean up everything, making the kitchen look almost as good as new. Soon, Janie announces that she is sleepy indeed, and then her mom comes home, amazed to find her heading upstairs for what she believes is Janie's second nap.

Illustrator Renee Andriani does a marvelous job with detailed images to lead the reader along in this entertaining story. Also, within the book author Blumberg includes a list of possibly unfamiliar words and their definitions, instructions on how to play the game dreidel, a couple of songs to sing, and a scrumptious apple pie recipe that allows the reader to almost taste it from reading the pages. Last of all, there is an explanation of lighting the candles for Hanukkah and their meanings. This is a very entertaining, enriching, meaningful book. This would be a great story to explain the meaning of Hanukkah for children and family readings. Very well written. Very enjoyable.

Nana has come to take care of little Janie while Mom and her brother go out. Janie is supposed to take a nap, but she’s too excited. Tonight will be the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle and there will be lots of good food, visiting family and friends and, of course, games. Counting sheep doesn’t help, so Janie goes downstairs to watch Nana knit. Nana, however, has a better idea. “I’m thrilled you’re awake!/ We can bake a surprise -/ A Hanukkah treat/ For your tummy and eyes.” Off to the kitchen they go to bake the best apple pie ever. Or, as Nana puts it, the most “scrumpdillyishiest pie!” They have fun working together and make quite a mess, which they do clean up. It’s quite an undertaking and, when they’re done, and when they’ve both taste-tested their creation, Janie is finally tired and goes up to take a nap just as her mother returns.

Togetherness, family connections, celebrating with food, family and friends – it’s an annual tradition observed by millions of Jewish families around the world. Margie Blumberg’s charming children’s picture book story, No Naptime for Janie: A Hanukkah Tale, is a real treasure. Told completely in rhyming verse and coupled with delightful illustrations, this story promotes the importance of family and traditions. There is a glossary at the beginning to explain the Hebrew and Yiddish words used in the text. At the end of the story, there are instructions for playing the traditional Hanukkah game of dreidel, as well as sheet music for two original Hanukkah songs—a lullaby and new lyrics to the song "Ma'oz Tzur"—and, most important, the recipe for Nana’s scrumpdillyishiest apple pie!