The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming facts for kids
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| Author | Lemony Snicket (pen name of Daniel Handler) |
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| Illustrator | Lisa Brown |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Humor |
| Publisher | McSweeney's |
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Publication date
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October 28, 2007 |
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The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story is a fun children's book by Lemony Snicket. It was illustrated by Lisa Brown. The story is about a very upset latke (a type of potato pancake). This latke is part of a Hanukkah celebration.
He manages to escape from a hot frying pan. Then he meets different things that are symbols of Christmas. These include fairy lights, a candy cane, and a pine tree. The problem is, these Christmas symbols don't know anything about Hanukkah. The latke tries to teach them about the history and traditions of the Jewish holiday. But his efforts don't work, and he gets very frustrated. He ends up running away from each meeting, screaming.
What Happens in the Story?
The story starts in a small village. In a simple cottage, a latke is made. The latke is dropped into hot olive oil. This makes him scream loudly, and he jumps right out the window!
He first meets a string of bright, flashing lights. The lights don't like his screaming. They also wonder why he was put in boiling oil. The latke explains that the oil reminds people of an important event. It's about the oil used to make the temple special again. This happened after the Maccabees won against Antiochus. The lights then compare the latke to hash browns. They even suggest he be eaten with a Christmas ham. The latke shouts that he is completely different. He then runs away, still screaming.
Next, the latke finds a candy cane. The candy cane says the latke smells tasty. The latke explains that his smell reminds people of religious freedom. He talks about a time in 175 BCE. Back then, Jewish people had to hide in caves to study the Torah. They pretended to play with dreidels if Greek soldiers came near. The candy cane thinks this sounds like Joseph and Mary hiding. But the latke insists it's a totally different story. He runs off screaming into the forest.
The latke stops to rest under a pine tree. The tree asks if the latke is a present. The latke is tired but explains something important. He says it's about lighting candles for eight nights in a row. This remembers a miracle in the temple. It also celebrates winning even when you are greatly outnumbered. The tree then mentions Santa Claus. The latke tries to explain that Christmas and Hanukkah are very different. But the tree says that different things often mix together. The tree starts to tell a funny story about old traditions.
Suddenly, a family looking for a holiday item interrupts the tree. They pick up the latke and take him home. There, he is finally "welcomed into a home full of people who understood what a latke is, and how it fits into this particular holiday." And then, they eat him.
