8 Beautiful Books to Read for Hanukkah
Hanukkah Sameach!
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that lasts 8 days. In Hebrew, Hanukkah means dedication. This festival celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after the Maccabees recaptured it from the Greeks.
About 2,000 years ago there was a war between the Greeks and Jewish people. The Greeks had the strongest army and were able to force their culture and customs on the Jewish people.
In the 2nd century BC, the Macabees, a group of Jewish warriors, rose up against the Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt and successfully reclaimed the Jewish temple.
The Greeks defiled the Temple and used it to worship Zeus. Inside the Temple was a menorah Ωsathat was required to burn at all times. When the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple and rededicated it to the Lord, they only had enough oil to allow the light to burn for one night. The miracle of Hanukkah was that the light remained lit for 8 days.
The celebration of Hanukkah is based on the Hebrew calendar, and is observation begins at sunset on the 25th day Kislev. This year, Hanukkah begins on December 10th.
Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting one candle a night, on a 9 candle candelabra, called a menorah. The center candle is called a Shamash, which sits in the middle of the menorah, the Shamash is used to light the other 8 candles. Some families celebrate Hanukkah with songs, parties, special foods, and playing dreidel.
Over the last several weeks we’ve been reading through stacks upon stacks of books about Hanukkah to prepare this list for you. We found these books to have beautiful themes, lovely illustrations, and living ideas. I hope you find this list helpful as your family learns about or celebrates Hanukkah.
Hanukkah at Vally Forge: Stephen Krensky
During a cold night in the Revolutionary War, General Washington is watching his troops from a high ridge. After 2 years of fighting, he is tired and weary of the war, and worried about his men. He sees a burning candle in the camp and goes to investigate. General Washington finds a Jewish soldier lighting a candle and praying. After questioning, his soldier shared he is from Poland, his faith, and tells the story of Hanukkah. This story parallels the Jewish people and their struggle 2,000 years ago in their revolt against the Greeks, and the new American nation in their revolution against the British.
One Candle: Eve Bunting
Every year, after dinner on the first night of Hanukkah, Grandma Lily carves a small potato and pours oil in it to create a candle. As she does this, she and her sister Ruth, tell the story of their time in a Jewish concentration camp during the Holocaust. Lily shares that because of her work in the kitchen, she was able to smuggle out small pieces of food to other prisoners in the barracks. They tell of carving the potato into a candle for Hanukkah to bring hope to those with them. The whole family toasts to life as they remember the women who did not survive the holocaust with Ruth and Lily.
Simon and the Bear a Hanukkah Tale: Eric A. Kimmel
As Simon leaves home to make his life in a new country, his mother reminds him to celebrate Hanukkah. She packs hard boiled eggs, salted herring, loves of black bread, a menorah, candles, matches, a dreidel, and latkes. Just in case he needs a miracle. When Simon’s ship sinks and he is stranded on an iceberg, a miracle is exactly what he needs. Simon’s miracle comes to him in the form of a polar bear.
Oskar and the Eight Blessings: Richard Simon
In 1938, Oskar is a refugee fleeing nazi Europe. He arrives in New York City on the first day of Hannukah with only a photograph and address of an aunt he’s never met. He walks through Manhattan trying to make it to his aunts house in time to light the first candle by sundown. During his journey, he encounters 8 acts of kindness, that welcome him to his new city.
The Eight Menorah: Lauren L. Wohl
When your family already has seven menorahs, what good is an eighth? Sam is making a clay menorah at Hebrew school but he’s apprehensive. His family already has seven menorahs at home, each special for different reasons. Sam is sure there is no need for an eighth menorah. When he finds out his grandma has a battery operated menorah at her nursing home, Sam has a great idea to celebrate Hanukah and bring joy to his grandma.
Jeremy’s Dreidel: Ellie Gellman
At Hebrew school, Jeremy and several friends join a dreidel making workshop. While his friends have plans to create dreidels that bounce or an environmental friendly dreidel, Jeremy plans to make his as a gift for his father out of clay. After a while his friends notice Jeremy putting a “secret code” on his dreidel with dots. Jeremy explains that his code is really braille which will allow his father to play dreidel during Hanukkah.
Light the Menorah A Hanukkah Handbook: Jacqueline Jules
A guide book for those wishing to celebrate Hanukkah in a respectful way, or learn more about the holiday. This book included reflections for each night of Hanukkah, the story of Hanukkah, games, and recipes.
All of a Kind Family Hanukkah: Emily Jenkins
5 sisters, Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertrude live in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the 1920s. The family is preparing for Hanukkah with all the their parents. All the older girls have special jobs to do but 5 year old Gertie feels left out. She’s too little to use the peel and grate potatoes, too young to chop onions, and she’s not allowed to fry the latkes. Gertie feels frustrated and upset until papa gives her a very special Hanukkah job.
We love All of a Kind Family chapter books so this delightful story was such a sweet read for us.
