8 Hanukkah Children's Books
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Happy Hanukkah! Creative Commons License. |
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration
that begins on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar.
Depending on the calendar, it usually falls in November or December. Hanukkah
means "dedication" and it commemorates the rededication of the Temple
of Jerusalem during the second century B.C.
I have made a list of 8 Hanukkah books for
children. Parents and educators can use this list to look up for options to
read with kids during Hanukkah.
This year (2016) Hanukkah begins on December the
24th and ends on January the 1st.
1. The Best Hanukkah Ever by Barbara Diamond Goldin
The Knoodle family is having dinner the
Saturday night before Hanukkah. They all ponder about the rabbi's message about
the perfect gift. The family decides to play a game. Everyone's name goes into
a hat and each family member has to give a gift to the family member's name
picked. During the first night of Hanukkah, the family celebrates with the
traditional lighting of the menorah, songs, the Hanukkah story, the dreidel, and
potato pancakes. Afterwards, the gift exchange starts, but it doesn’t go
according to plan. Everyone gets strange gifts. The family gets the rabbi to
help them solve the problem. At the end, each family member gets the one gift
that will be treasured forever.
2. Oskar
and the Eight Blessings by Richard Simon and Tanya
Simon
Winner of the 2015 National Jewish Book Award
for Children's Literature, Oskar and the
Eight Blessings is a story of a refugee boy named Oskar who arrives in New
York City on the seventh day of Hanukkah. It is 1938 and Oskar is escaping from
the terrible Nazi regime in Europe. He only has the address and picture of an
aunt. He walks all through Manhattan, which is decorated because it is also
Christmas Eve. During his walk, he meets several persons and each of them
greets him with an act of kindness. This touching story reminds us that there
is still kindness amid history's dark times.
3. Sadie's
Almost Marvelous Menorah by Jamie Korngold
Sadie's teacher, Morah Rachel, asked the class to make menorahs with clay. Sadie spends a whole week doing her menorah and practicing Hanukkah blessings. Friday, the due date, arrives. She is excited about her menorah, but trips and drops it over while showing it to her mother. The only part that doesn’t break is the one that holds the shammash. Her mother helps her find a solution. They call the new menorah "Sadie's Super Shammash." This a great story to teach children to find solutions when something doesn’t go according to plan.
4. My First Chanukah by Tomie dePaola
Hanukkah is also known as Chanukah. Acclamined
children's author Tomie de Paola teaches early readers about celebrating
Chanukah. The illustrations of this board book are joyful and match the simple
text. It is a perfect story for preschoolers.
5. The
Story of Hanukkah by David A. Adler
An educational picture book with vibrant
illustrations, The Story of Hanukkah tells
the history of Hanukkah in an age-appropriate way. It covers how the Maccabees restored the Temple of
Jerusalem. The book includes how some people celebrate Hanukkah, a latke recipe,
and directions on how to play the dreidel.
6. Hanukkah
in Alaska by Barbara Brown
A girl describes how is winter in Alaska. They
have to watch out for moose up there because they are big and kick things. A moose
lives in the girl's backyard, and she is afraid he might tear her swing from
the tree. Even though it is Hanukkah, the girl is grumpy because of the dark
and the wandering moose. The family lights a new candle in the menorah every
night, and the moose is still in their backyard. Dad has a surprise in the
backyard. The girl dresses up according to the harsh weather. They see the
beautiful, colorful, and bright Aurora borealis! Meanwhile, the moose sticks
his head through her swing, but the girl smartly drives him away with latkes.
7. Simon
and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale by Eric A. Kimmel
Simon is in route to America, but his ship
sinks. As the only survivor left, he is on an ice floe. It is the first night
of Hanukkah so he lights a candle that attracts a polar bear. Fortunately, the
polar bear fishes for him and keeps him warm. He also listens to his songs and
eats latkes with him. Simon is almost out of hope, but then remembers all the
miracles that have happened to him. He asks for one miracle more and lights all
the candles in the menorah. Miraculously, a ship takes notice of the glowing
lights and saves him. He arrives in New York after that ordeal.
8. Little
Avi and the Maccabee Fairies: A Story and Guide for Hanukkah (Volume 1)
by Jessica Shaool
A recently published and whimsical story, Little Avi and the Maccabee Fairies: A Story
and Guide for Hanukkah (Volume 1) is about finding magic around us in
simple things. Little Avi enthusiastically looks for the Maccabee Fairies:
Gooding Maccabee, Leora, and Lilah. She learns, however, that Hanukkah is about
much more. Children get to try and find the fairies in this lovely book. It
includes a latke recipe too.
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate
links. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive a
small monetary compensation at no additional cost to you. The covers are the affiliate links. Thank you!)
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