Lights & Laughter: Joel ben Izzy Spins Hanukkah Tales

Joel ben Izzy has spent twenty years travelling the globe, gathering and telling stories. His first five recordings have won awards from the American Library Association, Parents' Choice Foundation, The Film Advisory Board, The National Association of Parenting Publications and Booklist Magazine. He lives with his family in Berkeley, California.

Self-proclaimed "Traveling Storyteller" Joel ben Izzy tells eight Hanukkah tales in his sixth storytelling production. Ben Izzy recorded the stories live in front of an audience composed mostly of children. But the production quality is so high--the sound so crisp and the music so clear--that it's easy to get lost in the stories and forget that you're listening to a recording. The stories are clever and poignant, including an account of the storyteller's own battle with thyroid cancer, which left him unable to speak for several years, as well as his fresh take on the origins of Hanukkah. The stories, accompanied by traditional Jewish jazz performed by the Kings of Klezmer, are entertaining and educational for listeners of all ages. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine