Including Hanukkah books on your shelf is a great way to teach your children they can celebrate their own holiday while still respecting and appreciating others' holidays. Your children can be more understanding of other Jewish children at their favorite time of year. If you're looking to add some diversity and inclusion to your holiday bookshelves, we've got thirty-eight Hanukkah-focused stories for you!
1. This Little Dreidel
Your children will adore this cute board book. This story is a twist on "This Little Piggy" and will have your kids spinning and twirling as they learn more about dreidels and the dreidel game.
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2. Happy Hanukkah, Little Dreidel
The dreidels are preparing for Hanukkah. They must learn all the game rules, practice their spins, and learn the meaning of each of their Hebrew letters. This sweet book includes a dreidel finger puppet, ensuring it will be a favorite book for your littles.
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3. Light the Menorah
Young readers can light the menorah with a pull tab on each page in this adorable board book. Readers will learn about the Macabees, potato latkes, dreidel games, and the lighting of the menorah.
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4. You're my Little Latke
This fun board book will get your kids excited about latkes, dreidels, and menorahs. The cutouts and raised accents will make this a favorite book for the littlest readers.
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5. Happy Llamakkah
The llamas are ready for some happy holiday family fun. They have their menorah, dreidel, and delicious latkes, and they're ready! Your littlest book lovers will enjoy celebrating and learning with the llamas.
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6. It's Hanukkah!
This charming picture book will break down the holiday's activities for even the youngest readers. They'll be fascinated with the drawings. This book is an excellent opportunity to introduce them to the Hanukkah traditions.
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7. Crayola Hanukkah Colors
Have a colorful celebration with Crayola. This vibrant picture book teaches more of the traditions of Hanukkah and includes a coloring page for young learners.
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8. Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah!
This book is based on a popular Yiddish folksong and focuses on the fun of family gatherings in the Hanukkah season. Sing about the menorah, the latkes, the hora, and the dreidels.
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9. I Have a Little Dreidel
Enjoy the classic dreidel song with a few extra verses. The Hanukkah traditions are addressed with the refrain from the song on each page opposite the storyline. The book includes instructions for the dreidel game, music for the song, and a recipe for latkes.
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10. The Magic Dreidels
A goblin in a well gives Jacob two magic dreidels. One has the ability to make latkes and the other spins out Hanukkah coins. When he loses both dreidels to trickster Fruma Sarah, he returns to the goblin for help.
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11. This is the Dreidel
Take a peek into the classic Hanukkah festivity with family. Max and his family enjoy the holiday together with their menorah, colorful candles, and dreidels and visiting family members.
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12. Is It Hanukkah Yet?
Build the anticipation for the Hanukkah season with this early reader. Read about the steps to preparing for the holiday and the meaning behind the traditions. Once all the family arrives, the family dons their head coverings and the celebrations can begin. This is a great educational book with opportunities to discuss rituals and traditions.
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13. The Dreidel That Wouldn't Spin
When a dreidel is returned for not working, the shop owner decides to test it out with a child who truly understood the Hanukkah spirit. This exquisite book is filled with beautiful illustrations as well as an index explaining Hanukkah and instructions for the dreidel game.
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14. The Parakeet Named Dreidel
In the midst of one Hanukkah celebration, a dad finds a Yiddish-speaking parakeet. They decide to keep the bird and name it Dreidel. Years later at college, the son meets a young lady named Zelda who admits to owning the bird before him. Will his family be forced to return the bird to Zelda?
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15. Jeremy's Dreidel
All of the kids are making dreidels, but Jeremy's is special. His dreidel is for his blind father and he's inscribing it with braille. This book gives a history of the dreidel and the signs on the dreidel as well as some additional input on the lives of blind people.
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16. Simon and the Bear
From the Caldecott Honor-Winning story author, Eric Kimmel, comes another sweet Hanukkah tale. Simon sets sail to America with a promise to his family that he will always celebrate Hanukkah wherever he goes. When his ship sinks, that first Hanukkah celebration ends up being on an ice floe with a polar bear. This lovable bear keeps him company throughout Hanukkah as he's waiting for his rescue.
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17. Gracie's Night
Gracie is determined to buy Papa some Hanukkah gifts despite her lack of money. However, one night, she'll have an encounter that will change her plans. This charming story is a Mom's Choice Gold Medal Recipient.
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18. Little Red Ruthie
Check out this twist on the classic story, Little Red Riding Hood. Ruthie is ready to visit her grandma for Hanukkah with her basket full of latkes. Along the way, she runs into the classic villain, the wolf. Can she escape with the latkes or surrender them to the wolf?
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19. Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas
Enjoy this tale of a blended family and their Hanukkah celebrations. Sadie's dad is Jewish but her mom is Indian so they choose to celebrate with Indian dosas instead of latkes. In their quest to find the ingredients for dosas, the family gets locked out of the house and it's up to Sadie to save the day.
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20. Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat
Sadie's family is very poor so they really aren't looking forward to a Hanukkah celebration. When Sadie shows generosity and kindness to an old woman, she receives a magical pan perfect for making latkes on command. Her brothers decide to use the pan one day while she's gone, but they face disastrous results. How will Sadie and her brothers handle these results?
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21. Kayla and Kugel's Happy Hanukkah
This charming story is about a girl and her dog preparing for Hanukkah. Kayla teaches Kugel the meaning and importance of Hanukkah while the dog keeps the story light with his cute antics. This book has a solid five-star rating on Amazon.
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22. The Hanukkah Hunt
Ruby and Avital embark on an eight-night treasure hunt for their Hanukkah celebration. When Avital is disappointed she can't spend Hanukkah with her mom, Ruby sets up a hunt that will take her to different homes with different gifts, saving the best surprise for the final night.
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23. The Ninth Night of Hanukkah
When Max and Rachel's Hanukkah box, filled with their menorah, candles, and dreidels, goes missing, the neighbors all pitch in with common household items to ensure a holiday to remember. The siblings then decide to celebrate the ninth night, to honor the neighbors who helped them celebrate their special holiday.
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24. The Eight Knights of Hanukkah
On the last night of Hanukkah, a dragon named Dreadful interrupts the festivities. Lady Sadie requests help from the eight knights of Hanukkah to save their town and save the Hanukkah celebration.
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25. Farmer Kobi's Hanukkah Match
The animals are up to no good as they try to help Farmer Kobi meet his perfect match during their Hanukkah celebration. When they drive away one suitor, another shows up at the door. The lively illustrations and the unusual family in this story will make it a family favorite.
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26. Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah
Learn more about the Hanukkah celebrations as you celebrate with this family of mice. They'll light the menorah, dance the hora, and host a party. The lively illustrations will keep young readers captivated.
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27. Eight Wild Nights
Celebrate Hanukkah with one family as their large extended family comes to stay. Chaos ensues as the normal Hanukkah traditions are neglected. The one tradition that survives the wild nights is the lighting of the giant menorah.
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28. Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama
Holidays at Sadie's house are a mix of Christmas and Hanukkah. She is lucky enough to experience both holidays with her parents which means mixing traditions such as candy canes and potato latkes. This book is a beautiful gift for blended families.
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29. The Animated Menorah
Travel through time on a magic dreidel! Learn more about Hanukkah from historical figures such as George Washington and Judah the Maccabee. With eight stories, it's the perfect book for kids during Hanukkah.
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30. Hanukkah at Valley Forge
The gorgeous illustrations in this book complement the wonderful story of a soldier trying to encourage George Washington. He tells him a story of Jewish soldiers who defeated a Greek army which led to a yearly celebration of remembrance.
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31. The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol
This story is a magical twist on the Hanukkah traditions. The Spirit of Nate Gadol presents gifts to Hebrew children and families. This story is great for families who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah as it addresses gift giving similar to Christian Christmas.
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32. Schmelf the Hanukkah Elf
Schmelf the Elf is an important part of Santa's team. When he finds out some children are not on Santa's list, he decides to visit them to find out why. What he finds is a Jewish family gathering celebrating Hanukkah. He recognizes how special and fun the traditions are so Santa gives him a special job to carry on the Jewish traditions.
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33. Is it Hanukkah Yet?
Your children will love this fun rhyming book that focuses on the preparations for Hanukkah. Join in on the Jewish family gathering as they get out the menorahs, make applesauce, and decorate their home. The illustrations show a multigenerational family celebrating and enjoying the holiday together.
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34. Hanukkah Haiku
This book is a combination of the traditional Japanese poetic form with the celebration of Hanukkah. There's a haiku for each of the eight nights and each page adds a candle to the menorah.
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35. Latkes and Applesauce
Celebrate Hanukkah with the Menashe family. The traditions can come alive in your own home with instructions for the dreidel game, a recipe for latkes, and a history of Hanukkah.
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36. Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
Learn the hows and whys of Hanukkah in this classic children's story. The book dives into the history of Hanukkah and the start of the celebration as well as the different ways Jewish families choose to celebrate today.
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37. The Clever Dreidel's Chanukah Wishes
This clever dreidel shares the origin story of Hanukkah and teaches about the traditions celebrated every year and answers questions such as "why is one candle separate from the others?". The dreidel's one wish is for all children to be happy, healthy, and hopeful. Use the terminology explanations at the end of the book for further discussion with your children.
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38. Chanukah Lights Everywhere
Learn more about the family traditions of Chanukah with this delightful counting book. As a retelling of "The Twelve Days of Christmas", young readers will count the nights of Chanukah and learn the joy of Chanukah in a world surrounded by other holidays and beliefs.
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