By Kelsey McCallum
Light up your Hanukkah celebrations with these festive new books. Immerse yourself in the rich history, cherished traditions, and heartwarming stories that make the Festival of Lights so special. Perfect for kids and families, these books will keep the holiday spirit glowing all season long!
10 Things I Love About Hanukkah
By Natalie Barnes
Illustrated by Aviel Basil
Tiger Tales (August 2024)
Grade Level: K–1
This charming picture book celebrates all the things that kids love about Hanukkah—from lighting the menorah, to spinning the dreidel, to sharing a meal of latkes, and more! A fun counting element makes the book perfect for reading aloud during story time, and backmatter includes a glossary of Hanukkah-related words, as well as a pronunciation guide.
Charley and Seymour’s Hanukkah Miracle
By Melody Howard Ritt
Illustrated by Nia Gould
Kar-Ben Publishing (October 2024)
Grade Level: K–2
Charley and Seymour can’t wait for Hanukkah! They make plans for the big event, with Seymour volunteering to make latkes and Charley in charge of gathering the menorah and candles. But when Hanukkah arrives, Charley forgets what he was supposed to bring. Will the two friends still be able to celebrate without candles to light? Looks like they’re in need of a Hanukkah miracle!
Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah
By Karen Rostoker-Gruber
Illustrated by Carles Arbat
Apples & Honey Press (November 2024)
Grade Level: K–2
You may not want to invite a bear inside for Hanukkah, but if you think creatively, maybe there are ways the two of you can still enjoy the holiday together. Published by Apples & Honey Press, an imprint of Jewish educational publisher Behrman House, Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah offers a playful introduction for young readers to the preparations and traditions of Hanukkah. It’s a story about friendship, accommodating differences, and learning to be flexible when things don’t go exactly as planned.
A Dragon for Hanukkah
By Sarah Mlynowski
Illustrated by Ariel Landy
Orchard Books (September 2024)
Grade Level: K–2
This innovative holiday story celebrates the power of a child’s imagination, while honouring the wonder and magic of the Festival of Lights. On the first day of Hanukkah, Hannah’s parents give her a dragon. For the next seven nights, she receives other fantastical presents, including a time travel machine, a treasure chest, and several unicorns. But are these gifts really what they seem?
Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival of Lights
By Charlotte Offsay
Illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt
Doubleday Books for Young Readers (October 2024)
Grade Level: K–1
Eight Sweet Nights is centred around the many foods of Hanukkah. Set in a house filled with delectable holiday treats like latkes, sufganiyot, and gelt, this book follows one family as they prepare for the first night of the Festival of Lights. Sidenotes on each page give brief explanations of Yiddish and Hebrew words that have to do with Hanukkah, and backmatter includes additional information about the origins of the holiday.
The Festival of Lights: 16 Hanukkah Stories
Edited by Henry Herz
Albert Whitman & Co. (September 2024)
Grade Level: 3–7
This middle-grade anthology features Hanukkah poems and stories from 16 different authors, and covers a diverse array of genres, perspectives, and experiences. From the tale of a baker who struggles to make sufganiyot from an old family recipe, to a story about codebreakers during World War II, readers are sure to learn something new about Jewish history, culture, and tradition thanks to this illuminating collection.
Hanukkah
By Lesléa Newman
Illustrated by Rotem Teplow
words & pictures (October 2024)
Grade Level: K–1
This picture book invites young readers to experience the magic and meaning of Hanukkah by following along with one family as they begin getting ready for the eight-day event. Kids will learn about the types of food eaten during Hanukkah, how to light the menorah, what community celebrations take place at the Synagogue, and so on. The book also comes with recipes for latkes and apple sauce, instructions for making a Hanukkah tzedakah box, and much more!
Hanukkah Pajamakkahs
By Dara Henry
Illustrated by Olga Ivanov and Aleksey Ivanov
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (September 2024)
Grade Level: K–1
Hanukkah Pajamakkahs plays off children’s love of holiday pajamas in order to offer a fresh and fun take on Hanukkah traditions. Ruthie loves the PJs that her parents gave her on the first night of Hanukkah. She loves them so much that she wants to wear them for all eight nights, right up to the annual Pajamakkah party! But a lot can happen in eight nights… Will she be able to keep her new outfit spotless until then?
Let’s Get Festive! Celebrations Around the World
By Joanna Konczak
Illustrated by Ewa Poklewska-Koziello
Translated by Kate Webster
NorthSouth Books (September 2024)
Grade Level: K–12
Let’s Get Festive presents a beautifully illustrated collection of 30+ holidays around the world. Featuring festivals for every season, readers will learn about the sights, scents, and scenes of Hanukkah, Diwali, Nowruz, O-Bon, the Venice Carnival, and more!
The Light from My Menorah: Celebrating Holidays Around the World
By Robin Heald
Illustrated by Andrea Blinick
Pajama Press (September 2024)
Grade Level: K–2
This warm and cozy picture book explores not only Hanukkah, but other festivals of light as well. Following the light of his menorah, one young boy goes on an illuminating journey to see how families celebrate Diwali, Kwanzaa, Loy Krathong, and more. Robin Heald’s lyrical text and Andrea Blinick’s mixed-media illustrations pair together to showcase a world of special traditions, all connected by light and love.
Lucky Ruby: An Interfaith Holiday Book
By Laura Lee Rittman
Illustrated by Cennet Kapkaç
BiblioKid Publishing (October 2024)
Grade Level: K–1
Lucky Ruby is an interfaith holiday story that teaches young readers about the importance respecting how all families have their own traditions. When Ruby invites her friend Violet to her family’s holiday party, Violet thinks it’s strange that they celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, but soon she begins to realize just how lucky Ruby really is.
Rachel Friedman and Eight Not-Perfect Nights of Hanukkah
By Sarah Kapit
Illustrated by Genevieve Kote
Henry Holt and Company (September 2024)
Grade Level: K–3
Young readers will delight in following along with this book’s Jewish heroine as she tries to restore her family’s holiday spirit. Rachel has planned eight exciting activities for each night of Hanukkah, but her brother’s grumpy attitude keeps spoiling the fun. When an unfortunate accident threatens to ruin their celebrations for good, will Rachel be able to turn things around and bring joy back into her favourite holiday?
Kelsey McCallum is an Associate Editor for TEACH Magazine. She holds a BSc from the University of Guelph and a Graduate Certificate from Centennial College. She currently lives in Toronto, ON, with her partner and their cat, and is forever in search of good books and beautiful sunsets.
