The Stone Lamp: Eight Stories of Hanukkah Through History
By Karen Hesse
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A collection of eight poems, each taking place on a different night of Hanukkah and following the history of Jews from twelfth-century England to twentieth-century Israel.
The story of Hanukkah is the story of triumph of light over darkness, of the small miracles that give hope to an entire people. In a series of eight powerful and evocative free-verse poems, Newbery Award winner Karen Hesse captures this resilient spirit of the Jewish people over hardship and horror, through the voices of eight children at Hanukkah. The children--from Tamara in twelfth century England and Jeremie in thirteenth century France, to Harva in seventeenth century Turkey and Ori in twentieth century Israel--have all experienced loss. But they are united by love, family, and their cherished stone lamp. The stone lamp provides each child with comfort and hope, for in its light the traditions of the Jewish people can never be extinguished.
Description from Publisher
Yes, it is a Hanukkah book. And no, it is not just a Hanukkah book. This beautifully designed volume, a picture book for older readers, presents eight vignettes from the long history of a persecuted people, each framed and accompanied by a free verse story told in the first person by a survivor. It's a gripping combination, compelling in its personalization of each sad chapter in Jewish history. Represented are the Crusades and York, England Massacre of 1190; the Burning of the Books by papal order in Paris, 1242; The Inquisition of Spain and Portugal, 1546; the Muslim forced conversions and the False Messiah, Turkey, 1666; the Pogroms of Russia, 1883; Kristallnacht, Austria, 1938; the British return of the ship Exodus to Germany, 1947; and the Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Israel, 1995. These wrenching tales of tragedy, bravely illustrated in deep pigments by award-winning artist Pinkney, begin with Judah Maccabee's light-filled victory over the Syrians in 164 B.C.E. and end with the uplifting lines, "Sometimes a flame refuses to go out...So burns the Light of the Jewish People. So burn the Lights of Hanukkah." Truly a very special book to add to the portfolio of Newbery Medal winner and MacArthur Fellow Karen Hesse.
Description from Children's Literature
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Chanukah Lights Everywhere
By Michael J. Rosen
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One crescent moon glows in the sky. Two headlights shine through the window…. On each magical night of Chanukah, a young boy and his sister count more lights shining all around them! Join them as they discover what it means to celebrate Chanukah in a world filled with so many other lights. And look carefully at each of Melissa Iwai's delightfully playful illustrations, in which an ever-growing number of cats and cleverly hidden objects serve as reminders of each day's joyous Chanukah celebration!
This gentle and fun-filled exploration of the meaning of Chanukah reminds families everywhere that the warmth of the holiday extends far beyond the menorah. Full-color illustrations
Description from Publisher
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Arielle and the Hanukkah Surprise
By Devra Speregen and Shirley Newberger
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This Hanukkah Arielle gets to light a candle on the menorah for the
very first time. A heartwarming story that introduces the youngest child
to the traditions of Hanukkah.
Description from Publisher
Arielle has high hopes for this Hanukkah because she is old enough to
light the candles. She soon becomes disappointed when family member
after family member is invited to light all of the candles until the
last day. She believes someone else will have the honor until she is
presented with her own menorah, because the last day is also her
birthday. As a December baby, I was thrilled to see this topic finally
addressed. Holiday anticipation can be disappointing for all children,
not just those with December birthdays. A great discussion books for
parents and children.
Description from Amazon.com Customer Review
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Papa's Latkes
By Jane Breskin Zalben
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Another in Zalben's growing list of holiday books about Beni the
Bear and his Jewish family. Because Mama doesn't want to make the
traditional potato pancakes this year, the scene is set for a
latke-making contest. Goldie, Max, Rosie, Leo, Blossom, and
Molly each take a turn, but it isn't until Papa takes over that
Beni declares a winner--Papa's latkes are the best. Zalben adds
a touch of light comedy to the story, which concludes with the
family's gathering to enjoy a few other holiday traditions with
their pancake feast.
from Booklist
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Hanukkah Cat
By Chaya M. Burstein
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On the first night of Hanukkah, a shivering orange kitten
appears at Lenny's window. He pleads to keep her, but his parents warn
that a cat can cause all kinds of mischief. And Hanukkah Cat
does! A favorite holiday story back in print with wonderful new pictures.
Description from Publisher
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Hanukkah Lights
(Nifty Lift-And-Look Books)
By Ben Lakner
(Board Book)
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As Sarah and Jason prepare for the Festival of Lights, kids can
explore the history and customs of Hanukkah. In this informative
Nifty Lift-and-Look Book, all eight nights of Hanukkah are visited
and its rich traditions are highlighted as the reader explores the
different flaps.
Description from Publisher
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Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights
(Board Book)
By Leslie and John Kimmelman
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A young reader's introduction to the symbols and traditions of
Hanukkah is also a counting book that follows an extended family's
joyful observance through the eight days.
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Hanukkah
By Jennifer Blizin Gillis
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Few things light up our interest more than a party. In fact, celebrations form some of our earliest and most vivid impressions of the world. Candle Time shares those experiences. Each title explores a major festival featuring the element of light as it introduces children to traditional dress, food, presents, and more, as well as to the concept of culture.
A simple introduction to the symbols, celebration, and traditions of Hanukkah.
Description from Publisher
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Toby Belfer Never Had a Christmas Tree
By Gloria Teles Pushker
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Living in a small Louisiana town where hers is the only Jewish family,
Toby Belfer gives a party for her friends in order to explain Hannukah,
including the story of Judah Maccabee, the significance of the menorah,
how to make potato latkes, and how to play the game of dreidel.
Description from Publisher
Also in the Toby Belfer Series:
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Count the Days of Hanukkah
With a Lift-the-Flap Menorah Calendar Poster and Fifty Stickers
By Gail Herman
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This festive story depicts a warm celebration of the eight nights of Hanukkah, with family
members singing songs, playing dreidel, making latkes and applesauce, and acting out the
story of the Maccabees. Includes a lift-the-flap menorah calendar poster and 50 stickers.
Description from Publisher
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Celebrate Hanukkah With Me
By Shari Faden Donahue
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Written in rhyme, young readers of all backgrounds will be enlightened by the
message that differences among people are truly non-threatening when addressed
with openess, sensitivity, and deeper understanding.
"Though our religions may be different, great friends we'll forever be-
Because I love to learn about you... and you love to learn about me."
Description from Amazon.com Reader Review
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While the Candles Burn
By Barbara Diamond Goldin
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After an insightful look at the history of Hanukkah, Goldin offers
eight brief stories, each expanding on one of the holiday's themes.
She draws from Jewish folklore as well as the Bible and Talmud to
weave tales that reflect the strength of faith, the anchoring role
of tradition, the voice of women in Judaism, and the power of
people's actions to bring about miracles. Two of the most compelling
stories are rooted in history but set in contemporary times, giving
an especially relevant spin to the holiday's lessons: In one, a lost
soccer game and a forgotten lunch play a role in an Israeli youth's
learning to trust his Arabic classmate; in the other, Leah's need to
perform a good deed to fulfill a bat mitzvah requirement and a
Holocaust survivor's testimony come together. The dramatically
angular lines of Elaine Greenstein's prints painted over in gouache
convey a childlike innocence in their composition and perspective.
A stellar selection for Hanukkah festivities and collections.
from Booklist
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Latkes and Applesauce :
A Hanukkah Story
By Fran Manushkin
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A blizzard leaves a peasant family housebound at Hanukkah
with the potatoes for latkes buried under the snowdrifts. There
are no apples for applesauce, either, since the harvest was
poor. But when the family takes in first a stray cat and later a
stray dog, the two animals return the favor. On the eighth night
of celebration, when the storm finally clears and the nearly
starving group ventures out, the dog digs potatoes and the cat
meows in the apple tree where apples are miraculously now
hanging. This gentle story is well served by Spowart's
earth-toned chalk illustrations that depict the family in rounded
shapes with an economy of detail. An end note explains the
holiday and gives directions for playing dreidel and an elaborate
recipe for latkes.
Description from School Library Journal
In part, what makes Fran Manushkin's simple tale work so well is
its scope. It is 'a Hanukkah story,' not--as so many holiday books
tend to be--an attempt to pack an exhaustive lesson into the illustrated
form. . . . For children, what more appealing messengers of G-d
could there be than a cat and a dog?The animals bring the story to its
just-right conclusion--a miracle of sorts.. . . The resolution is just one
of many pieces that fit this story like a glove. Robin Spowart's evocative
art is another. It is a minor miracle that heso effectively creates a dark,
cold world, . . . yet warms the reader with the light of the candles and
the reflected glow on the characters' faces.
Description from New York Times Book Review
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Crafts for Hanukkah
(Holiday Crafts for Kids)
By Kathy Ross
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Ross continues her holiday series with this book, which draws not only on themes and elements
associated with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah--dreidels, menorahs, etc.--but also on symbols
that are part of year-round practice, such as yarmulkes and the Star of David. The projects
associated with games--among them, a button-flipping game called latkes in the pan--stretch
the holiday concept. However, the text is clear enough for handy youngsters to follow easily,
the graphics are cheerful, if not step-by-step, and the projects can be adapted to several age
levels. Enough to fill a void in holiday crafts collections.
Description from Booklist
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Fun Shapes Chanukah
By Frank Daniel
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A square becomes a box of Chanukah gelt and a dreidel in this
delightful, die-cut board book with simple text and full-color
illustrations by the author.
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