Hanukkah picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. The Retired School Librarian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. For your convenience, these titles can be bought on my Amazon Storefront under Hanukkah Picture Books. )
❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗
The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah
by Laurel Snyder (Author), Leanne Hatch (Illustrator)
Summary: A child participates in the lighting of each candle on the Hanukkah menorah, celebrating the magic of this tradition over the eight nights of the holiday.
Comments: Each night when a candle is lit on the Hanukkah menorah, a free verse poem is recited. The information box explains what is said, why the candle is lit, and what occurs during the lighting.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
A Dragon Called Spark: A Hanukkah Story
by Lily Murray (Author), Kirsti Beautyman (Illustrator)
Summary: Eva is new to the neighborhood and doesn’t know any of the other kids. However, her imaginary dragon, Spark, helps her feel less lonely. Throughout Hanukkah, she and her family make friends in the area by sharing dinners and inviting others to celebrate with them on the last day of the holiday.
Comments: Heartwarming tale of finding hope and friendship by sharing the light of Hanukkah in a window.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah
by Karen Rostoker-Gruber (Author), Carles Arbat (Illustrator)
Summary: A young child warns readers against inviting a bear to come inside to celebrate Hanukkah. While decorating and preparing food for the celebration, the bear creates a huge mess and is asked to leave. Following the bear outside, the boy is surprised to see a menorah in the bear’s window. Together, they find a way to share the holiday.
Comments: This fun and silly book is a great read-aloud, introducing how to prepare for and celebrate Hanukkah.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Hanukkah Pajamakkahs
by Dara Henry (Author), Olga Ivanov (Illustrator), Aleksey Ivanov (Illustrator)
Summary: Ruthie receives a pair of pajamas for her first Hanukkah gift and wants to wear them for all eight nights. Her parents agree, as long as she can keep them clean, which is quite a challenge.
Comments: This is a humorous book to read during the holiday. All students will understand the joy of having something they want to wear repeatedly, as well as the challenges of keeping it clean.
I like the new term “pajamakkahs” coined in this book.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Gingerbread Dreidels
by Jane Breskin Zalben (Author), Thai Phuong (Illustrator)
Summary: Sophie and Max usually spend Hanukkah and Christmas separately with different grandparents, but this year, the holidays fall at the same time. The grandparents come to their house instead, resulting in a blend of traditions, food, ceremonies, decorations, and gifts.
Comments: This is a wonderful book for children from interfaith families.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
The Light from My Menorah
by Robin Heald (Author), Andrea Blinick (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A boy’s light from the menorah in the window shines around the globe, traveling through mountains, deserts, and forests, where others are celebrating the miracle of light.
Comments: The back of the book has an author’s note explaining the illustrations of Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia Day, and Loy Krathong.
The illustrations for this book were created digitally.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival of Lights: A Hanukkah Story
by Charlotte Offsay (Author), Menahem Halberstadt (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young girl shares the games, food, gifts, and the lighting of the Menorah on the first night of Hanukkah.
Comments: This story also has informational text boxes explaining the terms used.
The back sections have more information about Hanukkah and traditions.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Hanukkah Upside Down
by Elissa Brent Weissman (Author), Omer Hoffmann (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Noah lives in New York, where it is winter, while his cousin Nora lives in New Zealand, where it is summer. They challenge one another to see who can have the best eight days of Hanukkah.
Comments: Young readers will have Hanukkah vocabulary and learn how people far away from one another can celebrate the same holiday in their own unique traditions.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
The selected children’s books are chosen by a certified, retired elementary school librarian who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.