The holiday season is a busy time, with people bustling about. And it's a busy time for Edgar, a cabdriver who conveys passengers around the city. All day long Edgar drives his cab; many people going to many different places. At the end of one busy day, Edgar is so tired he climbs into the backseat of his cab to take a nap. But he discovers he is not alone. A little hamster has somehow been left behind from one of the many fares Edgar has driven. Edgar dutifully reports the hamster to the cab company's Lost and Found department, but in the meantime the little creature needs to be taken care of. Edgar brings the hamster to his apartment, making it a bed, feeding it, and even giving it a name, Chickpea. As Edgar starts his Hanukah observance, with no family nearby to share in it, the little hamster becomes more than a casual companion to the lonely man. But what happens when Chickpea's owner is found?

Plainspoken storytelling by Markel (Balderdash!) offers emotional depth, as do pictures by Ceolin (Yom Kippur's Shortstop), which combine crisp shapes and velvety textures. While lightly anthropomorphized Chickpea is adorable, it's Edgar who will quickly win readers sympathies, and the everybody wins ending feels just right. --Publisher's Weekly

Hanukkah blessings abound when Edgar, a lonely taxi driver, discovers a lost hamster in the back of his cab and finds in it an unlikely friend. Softly falling snow and the warm candlelight of the menorah paint a tranquil picture; Edgar opens his heart, sharing treasured memories of his home in Tel Aviv, Israel, while searching for the missing pet's owner. This is a charming holiday tale about family, friendship, joy, and gratitude. --Foreword Reviews

An utterly charming picture book story for children ages 5 to 7, and one that is unreservedly recommended for family, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections, it should be noted for young readers that "Hanukkah Hamster" is also available in a digital book format. ---Midwest Book Review Ms. Markel's prose is simple and sweet and down-to-earth. It is also perfectly-paced to keep readers turning the page. Artist Andre Ceolin's illustrations are soft and dreamy, and capture both the bustle of the holidays and the singleness of living alone far from friends, family and familiar memories --The Picture Book Blog

Shipping Policy

All orders are processed within 1-5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) after receiving your order confirmation email. You will receive another notification when your order has shipped.

Shipping Rates

Flat-rate shipping is available for $9.95 for orders placed in the U.S.

Heavy-goods shipping for oversized items is available for $29.95 for orders placed in the U.S.

Free ground shipping is provided for orders placed in the U.S. over $100.

International shipping is available for $29.95 (standard) & $49.95 (heavy goods) for orders placed outside of the U.S.

*Free Shipping Not Applicable for Oversize items, International Shipping, or Fragile Items requiring extra packaging services.

In-Store Pickup

You can skip the shipping fees with free local pickup at our Harrison Ave. location. After placing your order and selecting local pickup at checkout, your order will be prepared and ready for pick up within 1-5 business days. We will send you an email when your order is ready along with instructions. 

Our in-store pickup hours are 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, & 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Sundays. Please have your order confirmation email with you when you come.

How do I check the status of my order?

When your order has shipped, you will receive an email notification from us which will include a tracking number you can use to check its status. Please allow 48 hours for the tracking information to become available. 

If you haven’t received your order within 14 days of receiving your shipping confirmation email, please contact us at thecustomerservicemuffins@gmail.com with your name and order number, and we will look into it for you.

For some merchandise returned within 30 days of delivery date, a refund will be issued to the original form of payment at the original selling price.

If returned within 45 days, a store merchandise credit will be issued at the original selling price.

Jewelry purchased via online store can be returned for a refund within 14 days of purchase in the original condition. Jewelry is not refundable after 14 days. Jewelry purchased in store is final sale, with few exceptions.

Christmas items are final sale.

This refund policy excludes SALE and discounted purchases. All SALE purchases and all other discounted purchases are final sale, and no returns will be accepted.
Reusable & protective face masks are a final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged.