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Thanksgivukkah

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

On November 28, for the first time ever (although there is some dispute over this and some say it won’t happen again until 2070), Jews around the world will celebrate the first day of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving together. Thus, Thanksgivukkah!! Have you heard of potato latkes with cranberry sauce and turkey? Or how about sweet potato latkes or cranberry applesauce?

Ok, let’s put food aside and talk some great books. There are some wonderful children books to help us celebrate the festival lights. Below is my list with some of my favorites as well as new books for this year. Those books with an asterisk are for families who celebrate both holidays.

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
Boris and Stella and the Perfect Gift* by Dara Goldman
Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland
Asher and the Capmakers: A Hanukkah Story by Eric Kimmel
The Chanukah Guest by Eric Kimmel
Hanukkah Bear by Eric Kimmel (a revised version of the above book)
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
Sadie’s Almost Marvelous Menorah by Jamie Korngold
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
The Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman
Hanukkah: A Counting Book by Emily Sper
Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster by Jane Sutton
The Eighth Menorah by Lauren Wohl
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

Lisa Katz is a children’s librarian. Check out her blog at hookedbooks.blogspot.com and her Hooked on Books Facebook page with daily reviews.