Hanukkah is a Jewish festival celebrated over eight days and nights, commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, includes customs like lighting the menorah, baking sufganiyot (doughnuts), eating latkes and playing dreidel games.
Where Do Diggers Celebrate Hanukkah? by Brianna Caplan Sayres
It's Hanukkah! Your favourite trucks are preparing for evenings filled with dreidels, presents, and lighting the menorah. Rhyming text and illustrations depict different kinds of trucks celebrating Hanukkah. Ages 0-3.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's 8 Nights of Chanukah by Eric Carle
This festive counting story makes for a fine holiday gift for fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, all while introducing young readers to the wonderful traditions of Chanukah. Ages 0-3.
The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica S. Perl and Shahar Kober
It’s Hanukkah, and Max and Rachel are excited to light the menorah in their family’s new apartment. But, unfortunately, their Hanukkah box is missing. Luckily, their neighbours happily help, offering thoughtful and often humorous stand-in items each night. Check out this creative spin on the Festival of Lights! Ages 3 and up.
Hanukkah Upside Down by Elissa Brent Weissman
From their homes in New York and New Zealand, cousins Noah and Nora have a competition to decide who can have the world's best Hanukkah, winter or summer, but as the eight nights of Hanukkah go on, they realize they have more in common than they thought. Ages 4-8.
Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg
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. Ages 3-5.
Red and Green and Blue and White by Lee Wind
On Isaac's street, most of the houses are decorated in red and green for Christmas, including his friend Teresa's, while Isaac's house is blue and white for Hanukkah; then someone smashes Isaac's window in the night, and Teresa comes up with a way to show support her friend--and gets the whole community to rally around Isaac’s family. Ages 4-7.
The Golden Dreidel by Ellen Kushner
Sara wishes she celebrated Christmas. Instead, her Tante Miriam gifts her a shiny golden dreidel at her family's big Chanukah party. Sara and her cousins are warned to be careful, for it is no ordinary dreidel. Soon Sara discovers that the dreidel is an entranced princess in disguise. Swept into a magical world, Sara uncovers wisdom and courage as she solves riddles and defeats demons to save the princess. Ages 7-10.
My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew by Abigail Pogrebin
Although she grew up following some holiday rituals, Pogrebin realized how little she knew about their foundational purpose and contemporary relevance; she wanted to understand what had kept these holidays alive and vibrant, some for thousands of years. Her curiosity led her to embark on an entire year of intensive research, observation, and writing about the milestones on the Jewish religious calendar.
Jewish Holiday Baking: Inspired Recipes for Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, and More by Uri Scheft and Raquel Peizel
Want to satisfy your sweet tooth? Learn the ins and outs of Hanukkah baking with Uri Sheft and Raquel Peizel.
