33 fun Hanukkah books for kids

Written and illustrated by Alan Silberberg, Viking Children’s Books (ages 3-5) Grandpa Latke loves to tell the story of the Hanukkah miracle, but his version is a bit sillier than we remember. Filled with evil potatoes from outer space and Juda and the Mega-Bees, Grandpa’s Hanukkah tale is quite the adventure. Will Applesauce, the Latke family dog, be able to set the record straight? $24, indigo.ca

Written by Jeffrey Burton and Chani Tornow and illustrated by Sanja Rescek, Simon and Schuster Canada (ages 2-4). This cute board book tells the story of a family of dreidels preparing for their Hanukkah celebration set to the tune from The Isty Bitsy Spider. Your kids will love to sing along! $8, amazon.ca

Written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Maria Mola, Lerner Books (ages 2-7). It’s Shabbat dinner, and Lila just wants to help her family get ready by baking her own loaf of challah. She tries and tries, but it comes out wrong everytime. Follow along as she figures out the secret to making a delicious koala challah her family will love. $11, indigo.ca

Written by Sylvia A. Rouss and illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn, Lerner Books (ages 1-4). Sammy Spider learns all about colours while his human friend Josh celebrates Hanukkah with his family. Your little one will love the brightly illustrated page of this new board book! $8, amazon.ca

Written by Greg Wolfe and illustrated by Howard McWilliam, Bloomsbury (ages 3-6). Shmelf is one of Santa’s most important elves—he’s in charge of checking the list twice to see who’s been naughty or nice. But while doing his job, he realizes there are some good kids missing from the list of those who get presents from Santa. A head elf tells Shmelf that they’re not missing, they’re Jewish. Hence Shmelf embarks on a journey to find out what Hanukkah is all about. $24, indigo.ca

Written by Neal Hoffman and illustrated by Necdet Yilmaz, (ages 3+). Learn all about an unsung hero and start a new family tradition. Moshe the Mensch helped Judah Maccabee at the temple by watching the lights from his bench to make sure they didn’t go out. And the toy Moshe that comes with the book can watch over your Menorah adding a little more funukkah to your Hanukkah. US $33, themenschonabench.com

Written and illustrated by Richard Ungar, Tundra Books (ages 4-8). When the Mayor of Lublin presents the People of Chelm with a very special gift: a giant menorah, the villagers struggle to find a fitting way to thank him. Finally, on the last day of Hanukkah, a little boy named Yitzi comes up with a great idea. $22, indigo.ca 

Written by Michael J. Rosen and illustrated by Robert Sabuda, Candlewick Press (ages 5 and up). In this beautifully crafted pop-up book, readers can follow Hanukkah through time and place: Herod’s temple, a shtetl in Russia, an Israeli kibbutz, and more! $40, indigo.ca

Written by Ronne Randall and illustrated by Maggie Kneen, Chronicle Books (ages 4-6). In this Hanukkah tale involving three little mice, readers can flip flaps hiding shiny foil surprises and discover a new tradition depicted on each page. $14, amazon.ca

Written and illustrated by David A. Carter, Little Simon Publishing (ages 3-7). In this fun pop-up book, little ones can celebrate the eight different nights of Hanukkah with memorable characters like Shammash Bug and Dizzy Dreidel Bug! $18, amazon.ca  

Written by Neal Hoffman and illustrated by Necdet Yilmaz (ages 3+). From the great minds behind The Mensch on a Bench comes the story of Hannah Maccabee. Her cousins have gone to face the Greeks and defend their people while she’s stuck sitting at the Great Temple alone. But not being allowed to help won’t stop this strong young girl from joining the fight. Nothing can stand in her way. $30, moderntribe.com

Written by Richard Simon and Tanya Simon, illustrated by Mark Siegel; Raincoast Books (ages 4-8). It’s the seventh day of Hanukkah in 1941, and Oskar, a Jewish boy fleeing persecution in Germany, arrives in New York City to start a new life. He only has a photograph and the address of a distant aunt, but walking through Manhattan, Oskar receives acts of kindness from people welcoming him into the city. $25, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell, Scholastic Inc. (ages 3-5). Clifford and Emily Elizabeth are celebrating their first Hanukkah! They eat latkes (fried potato pancakes), sufganiyot (fried jelly donuts) and play dreidel. But when they go to town to see the giant menorah, one of the lights is broken! Is Clifford big enough to fix it and save hanukkah? $7, indigo.ca

Written by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Matthew Trueman, Disney-Hyperion Books (ages 3-5). On a precarious sea voyage away from home, Simon spends his first night of Hanukkah on an ice floe after his ship sank. When he lights the first candle, it attracts a polar bear with whom he shares his adventure and keeps his faith alive. $17, indigo.ca

Written by Elizabeth Spurr and illustrated by Colleen Madden, Sterling Children’s Books (ages 2-5). Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights, meaning everything glitters and gleams at this time of the year. Read the rhymes and gaze in awe at the sparkly holographic foil on each page of this board book. $7, indigo.ca

Written by Karen Fisman and illustrated by Thomas McAteer, Jora Books (ages 4-8). A mysterious stranger visits the Stern family on the first night of Hanukkah and leaves behind a golden dreidel. Little does Jacob Stern know that when he spins it, he’ll go on a great adventure. $25, amazon.ca

Written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Grosset & Dunlap (ages 3-5). Even the tiniest of tots can learn about the Festival of Lights in this cute board book. $7, amazon.ca 

Written and illustrated by Karen Katz, Little Simon Publishing (ages 1-4). Baby–like everybody else–wants to spin the dreidel! Little ones can have fun finding Hanukkah symbols throughout the book. $11, amazon.ca 

Written by Roni Schotter and illustrated by Marylin Hafner, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (ages 4-8). This book encompasses everything Hanukkah–from the latkes to the spinning dreidel and lighting the menorah together. $11, indigo.ca

Written by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Amy Wummer, Grosset and Dunlap (ages 3-5). The night before Hanukkah is a very exciting time, but when the eight-day celebration begins, that’s when the fun really starts! $7, indigo.ca

Written by Linda Glaser and illustrated by Nancy Cote, Albert Whitman Prairie Books (ages 6-9). When more guests than expected come over to Rachel’s house on the last night of Hanukkah, she realizes she didn’t make enough latkes for everyone. She decides to borrow some potatoes from Mrs. Greenberg and invites the lonely lady to come over, but Mrs. Greenberg is just not having it! $12, amazon.ca

Written by H.A Rey and Margret Rey, HMH Books for Young Readers (ages 2-4). Learn all about Hanukkah with Curious George and his friends. Little ones will also find a latke recipe and how-to dreidel instructions inside! $11, indigo.ca

Written by Fred Ehrlich and illustrated by Karla Gudeon, Blue Apple Books (ages 4-8). This book takes you through each day of Hanukkah with eight haikus. See the candles light up one by one as you flip through the pages. Read a poem per night to your wee one before you tuck them into bed. $13, amazon.ca

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