Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah

November 27, 2012

Marin Mommies presents a guest article by Marin children's librarian Lisa Katz, who highlights some fantastic Hanukkah books for kids.

While we are resting our bellies from a grateful evening of our delicious Thanksgiving meals, we now have to quickly switch gears and prepare for Hanukkah. With only a short time until the first candle is lit on the menorah (Saturday, December 8th), we must get ready for our holiday treats. It is time to get out those dreidels, chocolate gelt, menorahs and candles. Here are some fabulous Hanukah books to share with your family and friends. They make for some great presents too!

I have put asterisks next some wonderful stories for children who celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas in their homes. I have also included a short poetry list as well as the PJ library list.

ZigaZak Hanukkah Books in alphabetical order by author

Our Candle by Eve Bunting
Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap by Deborah Cohen
Hanukkah Moon by Deborah da Costa
Papa’s Latkes by Michelle Edwards
The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes by Linda Glaser
Mrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser
Just Enough is Plenty: A Hanukkah Tale by Barbara Goldin
The Best Hanukkah Ever by Barbara Goldin
Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland
Asher and the Capmakers: A Hanukkah Story by Eric Kimmel
The Chanukah Guest by Eric Kimmel
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
The Magic Dreidels by Eric Kimmel
Zigazak: A Magical Hanukkah Night by Eric Kimmel
The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman
Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky
The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll
A Great Miracle Happened There by Karla Kuskin
Nathan Blows out the Hanukkah Candles by Tami Lehman-Wilzig
Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story by Fran Manushkin
Moishe’s Miracle: A Hanukkah Story by Laura Melmed
It’s Hanukkah by Jeanne Modesitt
*Light the Lights! A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman
Runaway Dreidel by Leslea Newman
*My Two Holidays: A Hanukkah and Christmas Story by Danielle Novak
*My Two Grandmothers by Effin Older
The Miracle of the Potato Latkes: A Hanukkah Story by Malka Penn
The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco
Hanukah Money by Uri Shulevitz
Hanukkah: A Counting Book by Emily Sper
Beni’s First Chanukah by Jane Zalben

*Stories that celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas

Poetry Books:

Hanukkah Lights: A Holiday Poetry by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Hanukkah Haiku by Harriet Ziefert

The Runaway Latkes When my children were little Jewish books were hard to find. Now with the help and generosity of PJ Library, Jewish books are getting to be so plentiful both in the bookstores and libraries. Here is a list of some fabulous Hanukkah stories to share with your children.

For those of you who have never heard of PJ Library, this is a fabulous free program sponsored by the Grinspoon Institute. This outstanding program sends free Jewish books monthly to children ages 1–7 all over the world. If you are interested and would like to sign up here is the link for our local PJ Library chapter. The PJ Library books are categorized by age groups and all of these books on my can be found at Amazon.com, local public libraries, and local bookstores. Most of the books on my list are recommended for children ages 2–8.

PJ Library Books: (over the past few years)

Chanukah Lights Everywhere by Michael Rosen (Baby and Toddler Books)
The Eight Nights of Chanukah by Leslea Newman (Baby and Toddler Books)
Hanukkah! By Ron Schotter (Baby and Toddler Books)
Hanukkah Lights by David Martin (Baby and Toddler Books)
Hanukkah OH Hanukkah by Olga Ivanov (Baby and Toddler Books)
Hoppy Hanukkah! By Linda Glaser (Baby and Toddler Books)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? By Jane Yolen (Baby and Toddler Books)
It’s Hanukkah by Santiago Cohen (Baby and Toddler Books)
Where is Baby’s Dreidel by Karen Katz (Baby and Toddler Books)
A Horse for Hanukkah by Myriam Halberstam (Preschool and Kindergarten)
Eight Winter Nights by Laura Melmed (Preschool and Kindergarten)
The Hanukkah Trike by Michelle Edwards (Preschool and Kindergarten)
When Mindy Saved Hanukkah by Eric Kimmel (Preschool and Kindergarten)
The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle by Jacqueline Jules (Preschool and Kindergarten)
Chanukah in Chelm by David Adler (Ages 6-8)
Jeremy’s Dreidel by Ellie Gellman (Ages 6-8)
The Golem’s Latkes by Eric Kimmel (Ages 6-8)
Lots of Latkes: A Hanukkah Story by Sandy Lanton (Ages 6-8)
All the Lights in the Night by Arthur Levine (Ages 6-8)
Like a Maccabee by Barbara Bietz (Ages 6-8)