Where Is Baby's Dreidel? A Lift-the-Flap Book
By Karen Katz
The author of Counting Kisses and Where Is Baby's Belly Button? brings her recognizable characters to this Hanukkah story. Where Is Baby's Dreidel? features large faces with sturdy lift-the-flaps that encourage children to "search" for the missing dreidel. Foil illustrations help add to the appeal. A sure hit for babies and toddlers!
Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat
By Naomi Howland
This excellent book retells the fairy tale of "The Magic Porridge Pot" with a Russian-Jewish family. When Sadie gives an old woman all the firewood she has collected, the woman repays her by giving her a magic frying pan. Sadie must say "Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat ..." and the pan fills up with hot oil and delicious latkes. When Sadie is finished, she must say "A Great Miracle Happened There". One day when Sadie goes out to the woods, her brothers say the magic words to turn on the frying pan but can't quite get the phrase right to get the pan to stop, resulting in quite a mess. Howland's prose and beautifully detailed illustrations help make this book a new family classic. Also includes a short description of the story of Chanukah and a recipe for the latkes Sadie would have made if she didn't have her magic frying pan. For more stories based on the same original fairy tale, look for The Full Belly Bowl, The Magic Porridge Pot, or Moishe's Miracle.
A Blue's Clues Chanukah
By Jessica Lissy
Blue, Joe, and their friends have been invited to a Chanukah party at Orange Kitten's house. They help make menorahs, light Chanukah candles, make latkes, and play dreidel together. The conversational style of the book is similar to the Blue's Clues TV show and the bright illustrations will engage fans of the show. An excellent story for introducing the traditions of Chanukah to a Jewish or non-Jewish audience.
The Rugrats' Book of Chanukah
By Sarah Willson
VHS Video Also Available
When Grandpa Boris and the "Meanie of Chanukah" put on a Chanukah Play, the Rugrats gang shifts into high gear to save the day. This humorous story is based on the Rugrats' Chanukah Special and frequently has the nonstop-action feel of an episode of the Rugrats TV show. The story itself assumes that readers are familar with the story of Chanukah, so parents or teachers may want to read the Story of Chanukah postscript before reading this to a non-Jewish audience. This book will be an absolute hit with Rugrats fans everywhere!
Dinosaur On Hanukkah
By Diane Levin Rauchwerger
Children will eagerly devour the adventures of the newest character to celebrate the Jewish holidays in the tradition of The Cat in the Hat. A boy describes how a dinosaur came to visit and celebrated Hanukkah ... with a little bit of chaos to spare. The dinosaur's antics will be sure to delight readers of all ages. Recommended for toddler and preschool readers.
Eight Chanukah Lights
By Annie Auerbach
Children will delight in this interactive Hanukkah book. Small light bulbs enable readers to "turn on" the book from the cover and gradually reveal one more light on the menorah. Short simple rhymes describe how a family celebrates each night of Hanukkah. They sing songs, play dreidel, eat latkes and sufganiyot (donuts). Each nights highlight, however, is adding one more candle the menorah. An excellent choice for toddlers and preschoolers.
D Is for Dreidel: A Hanukkah Alphabet Book
By Tanya Lee Stone
Just twist it and spin
If it stops on gimel
Shout "hooray," you win!
Children will love learning about Hanukkah in this dreidel-shaped alphabet book! Every page contains a letter of the alphabet along with sweet, rhyming text and words that correspond with that letter. And as an added bonus, at the end of the book is the complete story of Hanukkah! This is a fantastic introduction to the holiday!
The celebration of Hanukkah is highlighted by each letter of the alphabet in this wonderful storybook. Each letter's treatment involved a short four-line rhyme explaining the term. While most of the terms are specific towards Hanukkah, some of the terms are more generally Jewish (i.e., "Israel", "Rabbi"). The bright illustrations reflect a modern Jewish family's joyous celebrations. Overall, an excellent book for children learning the alphabet and for those reading alound together.
Arthur Yorinks's the Flying Latke
By Arthur Yorinks
In what is probably the most original Hanukkah children's book currently in print, Arthur Yorinks takes a different spin on the holiday story. While waiting for dinner to be served, Uncle Izzy and Uncle Shecky get into a disagreement about whether they were cut off by a Ford or a Buick. In the midst of the resulting argument, a latke gets thrown out the window but never comes down. The latke soon attracts the attention of the news media and the FBI. The family is forced to remain inside, living on no thing but latkes, until the brouhaha calms down. In a twist on the traditional Hanukkah story, a plate of latkes that should have lasted about seven-and-a-half minutes lasted for eight days. This hilarious story features hand-drawn backdrops with photos superimposed on them. The hilarious poses of the actors and the subtle changes in the background (look for the shifty eyes on the portrait) will keep kids hooked even on the 20th reading. This book will be a hit with children and their parents alike!
Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah
By Sylvia A. Rouss
Sammy Spider's Hanukkah Fun Book
By Sylvia A. Rouss
Spin the Dreidel!
(Board Book)
By Alexandra Cooper
This unique board book features an actual spinning dreidel in its spine. Short rhymes tell children the 'rules' of the dreidel game: take all the coins with gimel, end your turn with nun, take half with hey, put coins in with shin. Children will love to spin the dreidel as each letter is explained. This interactive book is highly recommended for preschoolers and toddlers.
The Jar of Fools :
Eight Hanukkah Stories from Chelm
By Eric A. Kimmel
According to legend, when God created the world, he intended to spread all the foolish souls throughout the world. Unfortunately, there was an accident, and all the foolish souls landed in the lone town of Chelm. What is unfortunate for the residents of Chelm is a delight to children learning about their troubles. In this collection, Kimmel tells of the antics of the fools of Chelm as they try to celebrate Hanukkah. He tells why their dreidels have no letters, how a simple errand to pick up some chicken fat can lead to quite a different item coming home, and how the fools of Chelm are able to use a magic spoon to make latkes from nothing (with a few extra ingredients added). Each story is short enough to make a delightful storytelling time after lighting the candles.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
By Eric A. Kimmel
What are the poor villagers to do? The holiday-hating, hill-dwelling hobgoblins are bound and determined to ruin yet another Hanukkah for them. Every year the beasties snuff out the menorah candles, destroy the dreidels, and pitch the potato latkes on the floor. But these wicked wet blankets never counted on someone as clever as Hershel of Ostropol showing up. Using his wits and a few props--pickles, eggs, and a dreidel--Hershel manages to outwit all the creepy critters and break the spell.
This fabulously creative adaptation of the ancient Hanukkah story in which the Syrians forbade the Jews to worship as they wanted, keeps the spirit of the original while adding a spine-tingling twist. Warmth and humor prevail, even in the midst of hopeless-looking circumstances. Award-winning illustrator Trina Schart Hyman creates lively and witty pictures that pair perfectly with Eric Kimmel's words to create this Caldecott Honor Book.
Eric Kimmel's story originally written for Cricket magazine is now available in a stand-alone picture book. Hershel of Ostropol arrives at the next village eager to begin the celebration of the first night of Hanukkah. What he finds is a town where people are afraid to celebrate because of a group of goblins that have taken over the old synagogue preventing any holiday celebrations. The only way to rid the town of the goblins (and reclaim Hanukkah) is to light the candles each night in the synagogue and have the King of the Goblins light the candles on the last night. Hershel cleverly manages to outwit the goblins and reclaim Hanukkah for the village. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is an excellent book for reading alound and will eagerly capture a child's imagination. A brief description of the history and modern customs of Hanukkah is included in the epilogue.
It's a Miracle! : A Hanukkah Storybook
By Stephanie Spinner
Owen is named the family's official Hanukkah candle lighter, and along with every candle comes a story. Grandma Karen tells about a girl who grows up to be a rabbi; a soldier who persuaded Jewish families to pray for the health of his wife; a young woman who earned enough money to buy her own horse. Spinner drops subtle hints (perhaps too subtle for the audience) that the characters in the stories are members of Owen's family, but by the end of celebration the links become clear--though no one is saying if the alien creature in one story is also part of the family. With seven stories to tell, the text is long, but the inclusion of the alien piece is a nice break from family lore, and familial warmth helps diffuse the sometimes rather earnest tales. Gouache paintings in framed borders further lighten the mood. Such whimsical pictures as a young Grandma riding into the sky on her horse and clever design elements help integrate the bedtime stories with Owen's happy Hanukkah.
This year, Owen has been selected to be the O.C.L., the Official Candle Lighter. Every night, after he lights the candles, Grandma Karen tells him a story, each sounding suspiciously like a member of the family. On the final night, the entire family gathers to hear Grandma Karen tell a story about a boy who did a great job as the O.C.L. that he got to do it every year. The fanciful illustrations add to the storytelling fun. An excellent story to encourage families to discuss their own histories.
Is It Hanukkah Yet?
(Step into Reading)
By Nancy E. Krulik
"Not yet. We have to wait for the sun to set!"
Families who celebrate Hanukkah will recognize this familiar refrain. And what better way to make the wait go faster than to read this sweet family story about how one very enthusiastic little girl awaits the holiday? Kids will find their favorite songs, games, and traditions in this early reader that captures the joy and warmth of the Festival of Lights.
This addition to the superb "Step into Reading" series focuses on the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. In this book, a young girl eagerly awaits the first night of Hanukkah. She helps her mother prepare for the start of the holiday but is told "Not yet. We have to wait for the sun to set." Her grandparents arrive, but she is still told to wait until the sun sets. Finally, her father arrives home as the sun sets, and the holiday can begin. The menorah is lit, the family plays dreidel and sing songs, and everyone eats latkes for dinner. At the end of the evening, the narrator happily concludes that she gets to do it all again tomorrow. Krulik captures the excitement and anticipation that young children feel towards Hanukkah and the warmth of a family celebrating it. This Level 2 book uses basic vocabulary, short sentences, and simple stories to enable early elementary school children to read with help. A pronunciation guide is provided in the beginning to help with some of the more difficult Hanukkah-specific words.
It's Hanukkah Time
By Latifa Berry Kropf
Preschoolers invite their grandparents to a Hanukkah party and celebrate by lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, making sufganiyot, and telling the story of the Maccabees. Includes facts about Hanukkah and a recipe for sufganiyot.
Photographs of preschoolers preparing for a Hanukkah party and their celebration with their honored guests (their grandparents) highlight this delightful Hanukkah book. The text is simple and conversational. The photographs are of an actual preschool class and the authenticity won't be lost on readers who will relate to the subjects in the pictures. The book includes a description of Hanukkah and a recipe for the sufganiyot (doughnuts) that is prepared by the students in the book. An excellent pick for preschool-aged children.
Light the Candles :
A Hanukkah Lift-The-Flap
By Joan Holub
Holub focuses on four siblings' preparations and celebrations of Hanukkah. Each night of Hanukkah brings on a description of a different aspect of wintertime and the Jewish holiday. The bright cartoonish illustrations are simple enough not to be overwhelming, yet are detailed enough to allow children to find something new every time. The flaps are quite sturdy and should be able to stand the test of time with most preschoolers. A wonderful read-aloud book for toddlers and preschoolers.
Where's My Dreidel?
(A Hanukkah Lift-The-Flap Story)
By Betty Schwartz
A young boy searches through the sturdy pages of this lift-the-flap book for his lost dreidel. While he does not find his lost toy, he does see his family members all polishing, and otherwise readying different traditional Hanukkah treasures of their own. For young readers unfamiliar with the holiday, this interactive introduction will be informative, as well as entertaining to read. For young readers who have grown up with Hanukkah customs, the fun here will be in guessing what's under each flap. Readers who like their endings happy will be pleased to know that while our young hero really doesn't find his lost dreidel; he does get a new one from his grandma!
While his family prepares for the start of Hanukkah, Max is determined to find his missing dreidel. This wonderful lift-the-flap book uses sturdy flaps to allow readers to help Max look throughout his house. The book encourages readers to guess what is under each flap by completing several sentences only under the flaps. ("Would you like to try one of my tasty potato ... latkes?"). An excellent book for children to read-aloud during the holiday of Hanuakkah.
Rainbow Candles:
A Hanukkah Counting Book
(Board Book)
By Myra Shostak
A new board book from a publisher known for excellence in concept as well as execution is always a treat. Simple rhymes count the colored candles, and each night's Hanukkah treat piles up on the floor with the others till, at the end, there is a full menorah and a full floor. The primary colors are bright, the little girl is precious, and the book is a winner.
This board book is popular with all the children I read it to and it's easy to see why. The rhymes are simple and fun, the illustration feaure an adorable little girl, and the numbers encourage children to read along. An excellent book for toddlers and preschoolers.
The Everything Kids’ Hanukkah Puzzle & Activity Book
By Beth L Blair and Jennifer A Ericsson
Just when kids get to the age when they become cynical about anything educational, along comes the "Everything" series to tackle Hanukkah for kids. This book features a plethora of puzzles, activities, and brain teasers to keep kids entertained for hours!