Fun books for kids to celebrate Hanukkah

Category: Books and Music

Hanukkah (Chanukah) is late this year. The Jewish holiday follows the Hebrew calendar so it occurs at different times on our calendar each year. This year it begins the night of December 15, 2024 and runs through January 2, 2025.

The holiday celebrates the story of the miracle of the Maccabees, the ancient Jews who fought against the Greeks for their religious freedom. The oil in the Eternal Light was only supposed to last for one day but it miraculously lasted eight days, that is why the holiday is celebrated for eight days.

Each night a new candle is added to the Menorah, a prayer is said, and Jews around the world give thanks to God for the miracle and their freedom.

Here, courtesy PJ Publishing, are several books to celebrate the holiday with your children. They are available on PJ Library’s Amazon web store.(amazon.com/p.jlibrary)

From PJ Publishing:

BABY-AGE 2

You’re My Little Latke!

Written by Nicola Edwards, illustrated by Natalie Marshall, Printers Row Publishing Group

Hanukkah is full of tasty treats and fun traditions, but the best part of all is sharing it with your little ones. From the best-selling You’re My Little series comes You’re My Little Latke, a sweet, festive board book with cut-outs and raised elements on every page, featuring everything from yummy latkes to golden gelt to shining menorahs, all paired with sweet rhyming text. ($9.99srp)

 

Jewish Cats All Year Round

Written and illustrated by Varda Livney, PJ Publishing

 Jewish cats (and their mouse friends) celebrate Jewish holidays all year long . . . and so can Jewish babies! This cozy board book takes you through the Jewish calendar year with adorable art and simple text. Babies will love seeing their own faces smiling back from the mirror at the end! ($9.99srp, available on the PJ Library Amazon Web Store)

 

AGES 6-8

Hanukkah Upside Down

Written by Elissa Brent Weissman, illustrated by Omer Hoffman, Abrams

 In this award-winning, delightfully upside-down picture book holiday story, cousins from opposite sides of the globe debate who can celebrate the best Hanukkah. Eight chances to prove it—may the best cousin win! From their homes in New York and New Zealand, cousins Noah and Nora decide to have a competition. Winter versus summer: Who can have the world’s best Hanukkah? But as the eight nights go on, the contest proves tougher than they imagined. A warm, witty holiday story from acclaimed award-winning creators Elissa Brent Weissman and Omer Hoffmann, Hanukkah Upside Down shows that while there are countless ways to celebrate Hanukkah, family is what matters most. ($18.99srp)

 

Onions & Garlic

Written by Rebecca Sheir, Illuatrated by Sabina Hahn, PJ Publishing

In this graphic adaptation of an old Yiddish folktale, Haskell masters the art of cooking onions, survives a shipwreck, and finds himself successful beyond his wildest dreams. Retold by public radio veteran Rebecca Sheir, with comic-format artwork by Sabina Hahn, Onions & Garlic is inspired by the first live episode of the award-winning podcast Circle Round (WBUR). A humorous tale about the realities of supply and demand, Onions & Garlic will delight readers of all ages. ($8.99srp, available on the PJ Library Amazon Web Store)

 

AGES 9-12

Detour Ahead

Written by Pamela Ehrenberg, Tracy López

Every weekday morning, 12-year-old Gilah takes the same public bus to her school in Washington, DC, and this year, she’s finally allowed to ride alone. On the very first day, the bus swerves too close to a bicyclist, and Gilah finds the courage to alert the driver to stop the bus. Without a bike, 13-year-old Guillermo starts riding the H4 with Gilah. This National Jewish Book Award finalist is the story of a Salvadoran-American boy who is a poet, a neuro-diverse Jewish girl who loves breakdancing, and how they navigate the detours of their families, their friendship, and their lives. ($9.99srp, available on the PJ Library Amazon Web Store)

Other fun suggestions:

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For a gift that keeps on giving well past the eight days of Hanukkah, sign up for a free PJ Library subscription to receive a new, age-specific book each month. PJ Library inspires joyful Jewish experiences by sending free storybooks and activities to families with children ages 0-12 and offering ways to connect with community. The program was founded in 2005 by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) and, with the support of generous donors and partners, now distributes books in seven languages to more than 650,000 children in over 40 countries every month. The PJ Library family experience is built around the monthly storybooks and also includes family-focused holiday guides and other free gifts. Anyone who visits PJ Library’s website can hear original storytelling podcasts and explore a vast collection of Jewish parenting resources. The program is designed to be welcoming for families across the diversity of Jewish life. Learn more or sign up for monthly children’s books at pjlibrary.org.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Images courtesy PJ Library