Long ago in a village far away, a "tremendous blizzard - as if all heaven's featherbeds had burst!..." begins on the first night of Hanukkah. Snow covers the potatoes and hides the apples needed to make the traditional foods. A stray dog and cat are welcomed into the increasingly hungry Menashe family household. After the storm subsides, each creature acts according to its own nature in helping the parents and two children. Each subsequently receives a name which fits like a glove. A brief explanation of Hanukkah, a latke recipe, directions for playing dreidel, and a three-book reading list conclude the whimsical story which is effectively illustrated in full color. (Ages 4-7)