words by Elissa Brent Weissman
pictures by Omer Hoffmann
Abrams Books for Young Readers New York
Noah lived in New York.
His cousin Nora lived in Aotearoa New Zealand.
When they talked on the phone from opposite sides of the world, they loved to argue about which of them was upside down.
“It’s Saturday here,” said Noah.
“It’s Sunday here,” said Nora.
“My dad’s cooking dinner,” said Noah.
“My mum’s making lunch,” said Nora.
“My school’s almost out for winter break,” said Noah.
“My school’s almost out for summer holidays!” said Nora.
But on both sides of the world, Hanukkah was coming. Each cousin had just mailed the other a present.
“Wait,” said Noah. “You’ll have Hanukkah in summer? Talk about backwards.”
“Your Hanukkah’s in winter?” asked Nora. “You’re missing out.”
“No way,” said Noah. “Hanukkah’s awesome in winter.”
“Maybe,” said Nora, “but it’s awesomer in summer.”
They set up a shared photo album.
On opposite sides of the world, the challenge was on.
In New York, it got dark early. In New Zealand, the sun set late.
But on the first night of Hanukkah, both Noah and Nora filled their homes with the glow of the chanukiah.
Noah rocked fuzzy boots.
Nora climbed rocks with bare feet.
But on the second night of Hanukkah, they both sang “Rock of Ages” with their voices loud and strong.
Noah ate pastrami on rye.
Nora ate hokeypokey in a cone.
But on the third night of Hanukkah, they both ate potato latkes, warm and crisp and golden brown.
Nora did cannonballs.
Noah threw snowballs.
But on the fourth night of Hanukkah, they both gave tzedakah to help repair the world.
They both secretly agreed that this contest was tougher than they’d thought.
Noah learned some Spanish.
Nora practiced her te reo M ā ori.
But on the fifth night of Hanukkah, they both used Hebrew to lead the holiday prayers.
Noah had hot chocolate.
Nora had hot chips.
But on the sixth night of Hanukkah, they both had sufganiyot, sweet and oozing with grape jelly.
Noah slid on his skates.
Nora surfed to the shore.
But on the seventh night of Hanukkah, they both spun sevivon—and won gelt for gimel!
With Hanukkah almost over, both cousins went big. Noah rode to the 102nd floor.
Nora hiked up three hundred meters. They both marveled at great miracles, then and now and all around.
They both secretly agreed that the best cousin had won.
On the last night of Hanukkah, Noah got the gift from his cousin Nora.
Nora got the gift from her cousin Noah.
And on opposite sides of the same small world . . .
Everything felt
right side up.
Dedicated to my grandparents Shula and Yaakov, with whom I made many holiday memories that I deeply cherish
The illustrations in this book were created with a combination of pencil, charcoal, and brush and ink, assembled digitally in Photoshop.
Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for and may be obtained from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-1-4197-6296-3
Text © 2023 Elissa Brent Weissman
Illustrations © 2023 Omer Hoffmann
Book design by Natalie Padberg Bartoo
For Anne, true and blue no matter the distance —E.B.W.
—O.H.
