This year, Hanukkah begins the evening of Sunday, November 28 and ends the evening of Monday, December 6. Get into the Hanukkah spirit or learn more about this Jewish holiday with these books!
All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah
By Emily Jenkins
Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780399554193 | Schwartz & Wade
The beloved All-of-a-Kind Family comes to life in a new format perfect for younger readers. Join the five sisters back in 1912, on the Lower East Side of NYC, and watch as preparations for Hanukkah are made. When Gertie, the youngest, is not allowed to help prepare latkes, she throws a tantrum. Banished to the girls’ bedroom, she can still hear the sounds and smell the smells of a family getting ready to celebrate. But when Papa comes home she is given the best job of all: lighting the first candle on the menorah. Jenkins and Zelinsky’s charming compliment to Taylor’s series perfectly captures the warmth and family values that made the original titles classics.
Baby’s First Hanukkah
By DK
14 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9781465499721 | DK Children
From the miracle of the oil, lighting the menorah candles, and delicious fried latkes and doughnut treats, to the spin-the-top dreidel game, shiny chocolate coins, and fun family time with songs to sing and gifts to give and receive, all the elements of this wonderful Jewish festival of lights are included. This classic little picture book has simple language and engaging, real-life photos that bring the warmth and celebrations of Hanukkah to life.
Hanukkah Lights
By David Martin
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
26 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780763630294 | Candlewick
Candles on the menorah, ready to light! At Hanukkah, there are many much-anticipated rituals – latkes to eat, dreidels to spin, presents to give and receive, and shiny gold treats. Add some free-form fun, from shadow puppetry to singing and dancing, and you have a warm, truly child-friendly celebration.
Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
By Bonnie Bader
Illustrated by Joanie Stone
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781984852496 | Golden Books
It’s Hanukkah time! Preschoolers will learn all about how people celebrate Hanukkah – from eating latkes, spinning dreidels, exchanging gifts, and lighting the menorah. And they’ll also learn why they celebrate – from the destruction of the Temple, the bravery of the Maccabees, and the miracle of that little bit of oil that lasted for eight nights. Filled with colorful illustrations and simple, yet informative text, this Big Golden Book is perfect for reading again and again. Share it with your family this Hanukkah!
Happy Hanukkah, Pups!
By Random House
22 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593177808 | Random House BFYR
Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol get ready to celebrate Hanukkah in Adventure Bay! Learn to count from one to ten with dreidels, latkes, snowflakes, and more as the PAW Patrol helps their new friends Rachel and Jimmy decorate for their Hanukkah party! Girls and boys ages 0 to 3 will love this sturdy board book, which follows Marshall, Skye, Rubble, and the rest of the pup heroes on a holiday adventure.
Is it Hanukkah Yet?
By Nancy Krulik
32 Pages | Ages 4-6 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593375846 | Random House BFYR
Families who celebrate Hanukkah will recognize the familiar anticipation of the little girl in this story. And what better way to make the wait go faster than to read this sweet family story. Kids will recognize their favorite songs, games, and traditions in this early reader that captures the joy and warmth of the Festival of Lights.
Meet the Latkes
By Alan Silberberg
36 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780451479129 | Viking BFYR
Lucy Latke’s family is just like yours or mine. Except that they’re potato pancakes. And also, they are completely clueless. After lighting the menorah and gobbling the gelt, Grandpa Latke tells everyone the Hanukkah story, complete with mighty Mega Bees who use a giant dreidel to fight against the evil alien potatoes from Planet Chhh. It’s up to the Latke family dog to set the record straight. (To start with, they were Maccabees, not Mega Bees…) But he’ll have to get the rest of the Latkes to listen to him first!
The Eight Knights of Hanukkah
By Leslie Kimmelman
Illustrated by Galia Bernstein
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780823439584 | Holiday House
It’s the last night of Hanukkah and everyone is doing their part for the big celebration, but a dragon called Dreadful has other ideas. He roams the countryside, interrupting the party preparations. Lady Sadie must call upon the Eight Knights of Hanukkah to perform deeds of awesome kindness and stupendous bravery and put an end to the dragon’s shenanigans. When Dreadful eats all the special donuts the baker made, Sir Lily helps the baker make more sufganiyot. Sir Alex makes a young lad a new dreidel after Dreadful scorched his original one. And on the Knights go – but when they finally catch up to Dreadful, a funny surprise awaits them!
The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol
By Arthur A. Levine
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
40 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780763697419 | Candlewick Press
Nate Gadol is a great big spirit with eyes as shiny as golden coins and a smile that is lantern bright. He can make anything last as long as it is needed, like a tiny bit of oil that must stretch for eight nights, a flower that needs to stay fresh to cheer up someone ailing, or a small lump of chocolate that grows to allow the Glasers to treat their children over the holiday and, during a harsh winter when medicine is needed more than sweets, spurs them to share what little they have with the O’Malleys. In this charming holiday hybrid story, well-known children’s author and editor Arthur A. Levine pairs with award-winning illustrator Kevin Hawkes to offer a mythical, magical take on the way Jewish families came to give and receive gifts over Hanukkah, just as their Christian neighbors do at Christmas, thanks to a loving spirit named Nate Gadol working behind the scenes – together with a certain jolly old soul.
Yitzi and the Giant Menorah
By Richard Ungar
32 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781770498129 | Tundra Books
On the eve of Hanukkah, the People of Chelm have received a special gift from the Mayor of Lublin. A giant menorah in which they place in the square for all the admire. Every night, the villagers meet to watch the lighting of a candle on the menorah. And every night, the villagers ponder What is the most fitting way to thank the Mayor of Lublin? The villagers come up with idea after idea, but their gift never quite reaches the Mayor. What will they do? Finally, on the last night of Hanukkah, Yitzi has an idea to orchestrate the surprise thank you gift.