Hanukkah Childrens Books

An original tale featuring a traditional Jewish folk hero, this clever story, which received a Sydney Taylor Honor, has been a family favorite for decades.

On the first night of Hanukkah, a weary traveler named Hershel of Ostropol eagerly approaches a village, where plenty of latkes and merriment should warm him. But when he arrives not a single candle is lit.

A band of frightful goblins has taken over the synagogue, and the villagers cannot celebrate at all! Hershel vows to help them.

Using his wits, the clever trickster faces down one goblin after the next, night after night.  But can one man alone save Hanukkah and live to tell the tale?

Trina Schart Hyman’s leering goblins are equal parts terrifying and ridiculous as they match wits with Hershel, trying to keep him from lighting the menorah and celebrating Hanukkah.  

This fanciful Hanukkah tale-like none you’ve ever read before-celebrates eight miracles: family, friendship, hope, selflessness, sharing, faith, courage, and love.

Before Simon sails to America, he promises his family that he will get a job and send for them.

Simon's mother knows he will need a miracle, so she reminds him to celebrate Hanukkah wherever he may be.

Little does either of them know that Simon will spend the first night of Hanukkah on an ice floe after his ship sinks. The lone survivor out in the wide ocean, Simon lights the first candle, and it attracts a visitor: a polar bear.

Does she eat him? No! She shares his latkes, enjoys his songs, goes fishing for him, and even keeps him warm at night.

By the last day of Hanukkah, Simon has nearly given up hope of ever being rescued. But then he recounts all of the miracles that have befallen him so far. 

The bright glow signals a passing ship, and Simon makes it to New York after all.

A bear wakes to wonderful smells that leads him to the house of Bubba Brayna. Bubba Brayna makes the best latkes in the village, but at ninety-seven, she doesn’t hear or see well.

When the bear arrives at her door, she believes he is her rabbi. 

Bubba Brayna and the bear light the menorah, play the dreidel game, and eat all the latkes.

The mix-up is revealed, Bubba Brayna has a laugh about it, and everyone works together to make more latkes.

In Celebrate Hanukkah Deborah Heiligman welcomes readers to a holiday celebrated by Jewish communities around the world.

The vivid photography of National Geographic illustrates the joyous celebrations of Jewish people around the world―including Ghana, Uganda, India, Israel, Peru, the United States and Poland, as they light menorahs, spin dreidels, and make latkes.

The richly informative back matter details many facts, such as the story of U.S. astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman, who brought a menorah and a dreidel on his Space Shuttle mission in 1993.

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-friendlycelebration.

Celebrate Hanukah on Sesame Street, and spin the dreidel with Elmo and friends!

What's a dreidel? Elmo wants to know! He finds out as he celebrates the first night of Hanukkah with a friend's family.

He watches Gil, Susie, and their parents light the menorah and joins in as they sing Hanukkah songs.

After supper he learns to play dreidel, the traditional Hanukkah spin-the-top game.

And, at the end of the evening, Elmo gets his first Hanukkah gift-his very own little dreidel!

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.

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.

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!

From the warm glow of holiday candles in the menorah to the fun of family gatherings, little dinosaurs love to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

But sometimes the excitement of Chanukah, its treasured rituals, and the tradition of gifts can tempt a youngster to misbehave.

Come along on a joyful romp filled with tumbling dreidels and melting gelt as America’s favorite prehistoric pals spread a little mischief this season.

Children will laugh out loud as dinosaurs fidget, fuss, and stomp through every occasion, while their human parents shift from shock to weary patience.

It's the night before the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah begins, and everyone is excited!

Each evening, the family gathers to light the candles and share holiday traditions such as playing dreidel, eating latkes, and exchanging gifts. 

Holiday time at Sadie’s house means golden gelt sparkling under the Christmas tree, candy canes hanging on eight menorah branches, voices uniting to sing carols about Macabees and the manger, and latkes on the mantel awaiting Santa’s arrival. 

Selina Alko’s joyous celebration of blended families will make the perfect holiday gift for the many Americans who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah.

Rachel Rosenstein is determined to celebrate Christmas this year — and the fact that her family is Jewish is not going to stop her.

In a series of hilarious and heartwarming mishaps, Rachel writes a letter to Santa explaining her cause, pays him a visit at the mall, and covertly decorates her house on Christmas Eve (right down to latkes for Santa and his reindeer).

While Rachel may wrestle with her culture, customs, and love of sparkly Christmas ornaments, she also comes away with a brighter understanding of her own identity and of the gift of friends and family.

No celebration of Hanukkah would be complete without recounting the events of more than two thousand years ago that the holiday commemorates.

In a simple yet dramatic text and vibrant paintings, the story of the courageous Maccabees and the miracle that took place in the Temple in Jerusalem is retold.

For readers who want to continue the festivities, a recipe for latkes and directions for playing dreidel are included.

It is the eighth night of Hanukkah, and George and his friends have gathered for a celebration.

They light the menorah, spin the dreidel, make latkes, and learn the importance of mitzvah!

In this tabbed board book, youngsters will even find a tasty latke recipe and instructions for constructing a dreidel, with rules for play.

A festive foil-stamped cover makes this a fine holiday gift for fans of Curious George.

Clifford and Emily Elizabeth are celebrating their first Hanukkah.

They love hearing the story of Hanukkah, eating “latkes” (fried potato pancakes) and “sufganiyot” (fried jelly donuts), and playing dreidel. After dinner, Clifford and Emily Elizabeth take a trip into town to see the giant menorah.

But when they get there, they discover that one light is broken.

It’s too late in the evening to call a handyman, but maybe Clifford is big enough to help save Hanukkah!