Maya Libri GmbH Maya and the Menorah Maker Challenge

Maya Rahman loves ideas. So when Cedar Lane Community Center announces a menorah-building contest, the eight-year-old plans an invention with spinning stars, folding arms, and enough sparkle to win the Maker's Lantern. There is only one problem: her design wobbles. Then it tips. Then the safety rules reveal even more trouble. Maya is determined to beat Eli Brenner, the classmate who measures everything twice and keeps asking, "What problem does it solve?" But as contest night approaches, Maya's flashy menorah collapses, a treasured brass star disappears, and her strongest base cracks. To recover, she must learn why menorah candle holders need safe spacing, how different materials behave, and when changing a beloved idea is the bravest kind of creativity. With help from Eli, her Nani Farah, and her younger brother Sami, Maya discovers a family story hidden in the little brass star. Together, two different makers build a menorah that is beautiful because it works-and welcoming because people can safely gather around it. Maya and the Menorah Maker Challenge is a warm, humorous illustrated chapter book for ages 6-8. It blends a Hanukkah celebration with an age-appropriate STEM and engineering adventure about design thinking, testing, perseverance, cooperation, and responsible creativity. Short paragraphs, lively dialogue, gentle suspense, and ten detailed black-and-white illustrations make it ideal for independent readers, family read-alouds, classrooms, maker clubs, and holiday gift giving. A hopeful story for inventive children learning that the best ideas do more than impress: they solve real problems and make room for others.