The 10 Best Hanukkah Books for Kids
Latke the Lucky Dog
By Ellen Fischer
Price: $7.99; Ages: 2-7
Latke is one lucky pup! A family adopts him from an animal shelter on the first night of Hanukkah — and names him after the golden potato pancakes that his scruffy fur resembles. Now it's time for him to learn the rules of the house, as well as the traditions of the Festival of Lights.
The Dreidel That Wouldn't Spin
By Martha Seif Simpson
Price: $12.99; Ages: 4-8
In this folklore-inspired tale, a magical dreidel just won't spin for greedy, spoiled children. The shopkeeper wonders: will it spin for another child — one who carries the true spirit of Hanukkah in his heart? The book includes a useful appendix that explains Hanukkah, and how to play the dreidel game.
Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah
By Sylvia A. Rouss
Price: $7.95; Ages 4-8
Buy on Amazon
After longingly watching the Shapiro family celebrate the different nights of Hanukkah, Sammy Spider is sad that he cannot participate in what he sees as a colorful celebration. But Sammy finds that in the end he gets to share the holiday with the Shapiros.
Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story
By Laura Krauss Melmed
Price: $6.95; Ages: 4-8
Buy on Amazon
Moishe, a milkman who is kind to everyone in his poor village of Wishniak, receives a magic frying pan that produces an unlimited supply of delicious Hanukkah latkes. The magic gift, of course, comes with one condition: only Moishe can use it. But what real harm could breaking this rule bring?
The Flying Latke
By Arthur Yorinks
Price: $6.99; Ages: 4-8
Buy on Amazon
Oy! A family argument on the first night of Hanukkah results in a food fight, and a flying latke is mistaken for a flying saucer. The mistaken object keeps the household hostage for eight days of the holiday.
Happy Hanukkah Corduroy
By Don Freeman and illustrated by Lisa McCue.
Price $6.99; Ages 2 and up.
Buy on Amazon
Read the story of Corduroy's Hanukkah's party with your children to get them excited about the holiday to come. The lovable bear and his friends light the menorah and enjoy other Hanukkah traditions together.
The Mensch on a Bench (available with holiday decorative doll)
By Neal Hoffman, Illustrated by Necdet Yilmaz
Price $35.00. Ages 3 and up.
Buy on Amazon
The Mensch on a Bench is a Jewish taKe on the popular Elf on a Shelf seen every Christmas. The creator of the toy and book brought his goods into American homesin 2014 on the television show "Shark Tank." If you didn't see that episode, the story centers on Moshe the Mensch who helps the Maccabees by watching over the Hanukkah oil as it burnsfor eight days and nights. Parents have the option of hiding Moshe throughout the home during Hanukkah as well.
Happy Hanukkah, Curious George
By H. A. and Margret Rey
Price $7.99. Ages 1-4 years.
Buy on Amazon
In this story, the monkey many children have grown to love attends a Hanukkah party. At this event Man in the Yellow Hat lights the menorah and Curious George helps make latkes. This book is good for very young children or to test children around preschool age about their Hanukkah knowledge. Kids love to help their parents urn the pages on this tabbed board book.
Dear Santa, Love, Rachel Rosenstein
By Amanda Peet and Andrea Troyer and illustrated by Christine Davenier
Price: Ages 8 and up
Buy on Amazon
Jewish children who are bombarded by Christmas marketing each December might enjoy Rachel's story. She is desperate to get Santa to visit her home. She even writes a letter to him and decorates her home in anticipation of his arrival. Come Christmas Day, Rachel is, per usual, eating delicious Chinese food with her family. She is surprised to realize that there are so many other families who don't celebrate Christmas at the Chinese restaurant. Rachel comes to understand her religious identity much better by the end of the story. Adults and children who have yearned for Old Saint Nick and the yule log will enjoy this story.
Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf
Price: $16.99. Ages 5 and up. Buy on Amazon
Shmelf is a legitimate elf. He's even part of Santa's List Checking department. As he checks his list he realized that some children are missing from Santa's list. He later learns that these children celebrate Hanukkah and he ends up learning about all of their traditions and having a ton of fun.
