Hanukkah is right around the corner and my daughter is excited. We don’t celebrate Hanukkah, but when she first learned about the holiday last year, she got so excited that she wanted to learn all about it. A friend of ours sent us a video of her lighting the candles and saying the blessing, and it just inspired her to learn more. So I decided to gather a list of children’s books about Hanukkah to help us learn more about the holiday and the traditions.

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Combining family traditions

Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas was written by Pamela Ehrenberg and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar. This sweet story follows a multi-cultural family as they combine the father’s Jewish background with the mother’s Indian heritage. Instead of the traditional latkes, the family makes Indian dosas.

The story shows how the main character’s little sister is always annoying him by climbing on things and getting into trouble. However, when the family gets locked out, she just may be able to save the day. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and the story is a great way to show how families can combine their traditions to create new ones. The book also includes a recipe for making Indian dosas, which could lead to a new tradition for your family as well!

A Hanukkah book celebrating love for pets!

Latke, the Lucky Dog was written by Ellen Fischer and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. When a family visits a local animal shelter at the start of Hanukkah, they choose a lucky dog the color of latkes and bring him home. As the family celebrates the eight nights of Hanukkah, Latke gets into some trouble while learning the rules of the house. This sweet story of pet adoption introduces some of the traditions of the holiday, while sharing a heartwarming family story. The illustrations are fun and colorful, showcasing the adorable Latke and his loving family.

Share the holiday with these unusual characters!

Hanukkah Bear was written by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. When Old Bear wakes up from a winter nap, he smells something delicious and goes in search of food. Meanwhile, ninety-seven year old Bubba Brayna is preparing the best latkes for the rabbi’s Hanukkah visit. When her poor hearing and eyesight cause her to mistake Old Bear for the visiting rabbi, a hilarious story unfolds. Readers are introduced to some of the traditions of the holiday through an entertaining story and warm and engaging illustrations. Kids will love the relationship between Bubba Brayna and Old Bear, as well as the story’s heartwarming ending.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins: 25th Anniversary Edition was written by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. This Caldecott Honor book follows Hershel of Ostropol, a traveler who finds himself approaching a dark village on the first night of Hanukkah. When he learns that goblins haunt the old synagogue and ruin any attempts at a Hanukkah celebration, he decides to face them and save the holiday for the villagers. Can he outsmart them with his wit, and save Hanukkah? The text is long and the illustrations are dark, so this is a better read for older children. But the story is engaging and kids will find themselves rooting for the brave Hershel.

Celebrating Hanukkah with everyone’s favorite big red dog!

Clifford Celebrates Hanukkah was written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell. When Clifford and Emily Elizabeth visit her classmate Melissa and her family on Hannukah, they learn about the traditions and history of the holiday. In addition to introducing readers to festive symbols and activities in an easy to understand story, the text also includes pronunciations of several words. The illustrations are done in the same style as your favorite Clifford books, and the heartwarming ending is classic Clifford as well!

Check out this list of Hanukkah board books for little ones too!

A Hanukkah book about the spirit of giving

Gracie’s Night: A Hannukah Story was written by Lynn Taylor Gordon and illustrated by Laura Brown. This heartwarming story follows a young girl named Gracie. She and her Papa don’t have a lot of money, but she decides that she wants to give him something special this Hanukkah. However, a surprise encounter changes her plans. This sweet story of giving and love is told through a flowing rhyme and colorful digital illustrations.

These are great books for preparing for Hanukkah!

The Night Before Hanukkah was written by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Amy Wummer. This twist on the classic Christmas poem takes readers on a journey through the holiday, while introducing readers to some of the traditions and symbols in a peppy rhyming story. The illustrations are warm and inviting, showing the characters preparing for and celebrating the holiday. Kids will enjoy the familiar rhythm of the poem, as well as the cheery characters in the illustrations.

Is It Hanukkah Yet? was written by Chris Barash and illustrated by Alessandra Psacharopulo. This rhyming story celebrates all of the preparations leading up to the Hanukkah holiday. From the seasonal changes outside to the cooking and decorating indoors, the beautiful illustrations and lyrical text introduce some of the traditional ways that we prepare for the holiday season.

Learn about the Maccabees with these books!

Maccabee!: The Story of Hanukkah was written by Tilda Balsley and illustrated by David Harrington. This book introduces kids to the story of the Maccabees and their fight for religious freedom. The rhyming story uses action packed text and superhero style illustrations to engage the reader and inform them about the history of the holiday.

The Story of Hanukkah was written by David A. Adler and illustrated by Jill Weber. This book introduces young readers to the story of the Maccabees and the miracle of Hanukkah. The text is easy for kids to understand, although it doesn’t shy away from the more dramatic elements of the story. The illustrations are engaging, and use lots of textures and vibrant colors to bring the story to life. The back of the book also includes a recipe for making latkes, and instructions for playing dreidel.

Does your family have any favorite Hanukkah books? Share them in the comments below so I can add to our collection!

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