This month’s book is The Parakeet Named Dreidel by Nobel prize winning author Isaac Bashevis Singer. David and his parents are celebrating Hanukkah, when they notice a parakeet sitting on their windowsill. David’s father opens the window and waves the little bird inside and out of the cold snowy night. David is thrilled with the little bird and names him “Dreidel”. The family posts lost notices around the neighborhood, but no one comes forward to claim Dreidel.

The family buys the bird a cage and he becomes a beloved member of the family. On Hannukah, Dreidel always receives a gift – a mirror, a swing, a jingle bell, etc. He even develops a taste for latkes.

When David grows up, he brings home his friend Zelda from college – who has a connection to Dreidel… Cooper thought this book was fantastic. She loved the colorful illustrations (by Suzanne Raphael Berkson) and the sweet twist at the end. Her favorite part of the book was when Dreidel helped the father with his with his writing. Cooper also likes to sit on fingers when they’re typing. She liked that the family always kept Dreidel’s cage unlocked so he could come and go as he pleased. And what better miracle could there be than a parakeet showing up on your windowsill?