Winter Holiday Books For Kids!

I am a mix of two traditions.
From Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama.
How lucky am I? Holiday time at Sadie's house means golden gelt sparkling under the Christmas tree, candy canes hanging on eight menorah branches, voices uniting to sing carols about Macabees and the manger, and latkes on the mantel awaiting Santa's arrival. Selina Alko's joyous celebration of blended families will make the perfect holiday gift for the many Americans who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah.

For one family the traditional Hanukkah celebration has a deeper meaning. Amidst the food and the festivities, Grandma and Great-Aunt Rose begin their story-the one they tell each year. They pass on to each generation a tale of perseverance during the darkest hours of the Holocaust, and the strength it took to continue to honor Hanukkah in the only way they could. Best-selling author Eve Bunting's touching and joyous story about the importance of remembrance is exquisitely rendered by K. Wendy Popp's remarkable pastels. One Candle reaffirms the values of tradition and family, but also shows us that by continuing to honor the tragedies and the triumphs of the past there will always be hope for the future.

"It's Hanukkah from A to Z. An Alphabet of things to see!" ABC Hanukkah Hunt is a colorful, interactive, rhyming search for Hanukkah foods, gifts, and symbols.

It's time for Hanukkah, and Hanukkah is a time for family. This reasonably priced hardcover picture book features the classic holiday dreidel song, with extra rhyming verses added on. We see the family gathering at a child's house, mama and child working together to make latkes (a classic Hanukkah treat), the family lighting the menorah, and then a spirited game of dreidel. The game is described in easy-to-follow language so that children can follow along and play at home themselves!

With haunting, luminous paintings, here is a touching story about the true meaning of giving--and about two individuals from different backgrounds coming together.

Putting a spin on the classic A Christmas Carol, > Codell and Pham follow Old Scroogemacher, a tyrant who experiences a Hanukkah like no other, in which three rabbis manage to turn him into a mensch

For Selma and her little sister, Dora, this is their first Chanukah without Mama. When Papa comes home carrying a big bag of potatoes and all the ingredients for latkes, Selma is worried. Mama always made the Chanukah latkes. Could they make them without her? In Michelle Edwards's poignant story, illustrated with Stacey Schuett's warmly glowing artwork, Selma comes to realize that while Chanukah — and especially latkes — will never be the same without Mama, Selma can still celebrate, and will always remember.

Though it's the first night of Hanukkah, Rachel's family won't really be celebrating until next week. But Rachel wants to celebrate now, so she comes up with a good idea: while her parents do errands, she'll visit her neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg, and they can make latkes together. The two head into Mrs. Greenberg's shiny, tidy kitchen and begin grating the potatoes. But Rachel's gratings slide off the table and onto the floor. Before long, Rachel has dropped an egg, spilled the flour, and dribbled the oil. Mrs. Greenberg is exhausted, Rachel's mom and dad are horrified, and Rachel is afraid she's ruined a friendship by making this terrible mess. She is relieved and delighted to find that Mrs. Greenberg thinks it's a wonderful mess--her house hasn't felt so lived-in in years!

Sadie and her four little brothers are very poor and always hungry. On the first night of Chanukah, Sadie performs a generous act, and in turn receives a frying pan that cooks up sizzling hot, golden latkes on command. Sadie tells her brothers never to use the magic pan, but when she goes out one afternoon, the mischievous boys can't resist. They remember the words to start the pan cooking . . . but what were the words to make it stop? This humorous tale of generosity and greed is accompanied by bright, cheerful illustrations depicting a traditional Russian village. An author's note and a recipe for Sadie's latkes are included.

Nine-year-old Emanuel stows away aboard a whaling ship until the Hanukkah candles in a window light the way to bring him home.

The story of Hanukkah is the story of triumph of light over darkness, of the small miracles that give hope to an entire people. In a series of eight powerful and evocative free-verse poems, Newbery Award winner Karen Hesse captures this resilient spirit of the Jewish people over hardship and horror, through the voices of eight children at Hanukkah. The children--from Tamara in twelfth century England and Jeremie in thirteenth century France, to Harva in seventeenth century Turkey and Ori in twentieth century Israel--have all experienced loss. But they are united by love, family, and their cherished stone lamp. The stone lamp provides each child with comfort and hope, for in its light the traditions of the Jewish people can never be extinguished.

Acclaimed author Emily Jenkins (A Greyhound, a Groundhog) and Caldecott Award-winning artist Paul O. Zelinsky (Rapunzel) bring the beloved All-of-a-Kind Family to life in a new format. Fans, along with those just meeting the five girls ("all of a kind," as their parents say), will join them back in 1912, on the Lower East Side of NYC, and watch as preparations for Hanukkah are made. When Gertie, the youngest, is not allowed to help prepare latkes, she throws a tantrum. Banished to the girls' bedroom, she can still hear the sounds and smell the smells of a family getting ready to celebrate. But then Papa comes home and she is allowed out--and given the best job of all: lighting the first candle on the menorah.

Almost blind and deaf, a woman known for her delicious latkes mistakes a visiting bear for her rabbi. A retelling of The Chanukkah Guest (Holiday House, 1990, o.p.) with new illustrations.

Little Mindy Klein lives with her tiny family behind the walls of the Eldridge Street Synagogue. When Mindy's father sprains his ankle right before Hanukkah, he is unable to bring home a candle for the menorah. So Mindy decides to set out and find the candle herself. But first she has to face off with an enormous, frightening cat. With a lot of bravery (and a little help from grandpa) Mindy manages to save Hanukkah just in time...and learns the true meaning behind the Festival of Lights.

Before Simon sails to America, he promises his family that he will get a job and send for them. Simon's mother knows he will need a miracle, so she reminds him to celebrate Hanukkah wherever he may be. Little does either of them know that Simon will spend the first night of Hanukkah on an ice floe after his ship sinks.The lone survivor out in the wide ocean, Simon lights the first candle, and it attracts a visitor: a polar bear. Does she eat him? No! She shares his latkes, enjoys his songs, goes fishing for him, and even keeps him warm at night. By the last day of Hanukkah, Simon has nearly given up hope of ever being rescued. But then he recounts all of the miracles that have befallen him so far. Perhaps it is not too much to hope for one more, he thinks, as he lights all of the candles in the menorah. The bright glow signals a passing ship, and Simon makes it to New York after all. This fanciful Hanukkah tale-like none you've ever read before-celebrates eight miracles: family, friendship, hope, selflessness, sharing, faith, courage, and love. A retelling of the ancient Hanukkah story is included on the last page.

This now-classic tale relates how Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt an old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah.

This photo essay shows preschoolers celebrating with their grandparents at a Hanukkah party. Vibrant full-color photos show students lighting the menorah, playing dreidel and telling the story of Judah Maccabee. This book is ideal for helping educators initiate Hanukkah celebrations in their own classrooms and kids will love seeing children their own age in the pictures.

Jacob makes amends when a goblin gives him dreidels that spin out latkes and Hanukkah gelt.

On the first night of Hanukkah, two tricky devils arrive in the town of Brisk to cause mischief. They use a magic word — Zigazak! — to make dreidels dance and latkes fly. The good citizens of Brisk panic and appeal to their wise rabbi for help. He triumphs over the devils in a contest of wits, and soon sends them packing. But his real triumph is the ability to see the good in all things, even devils’ tricks, helping the townsfolk enjoy their most magical Hanukkah ever.

As Rebecca Bloom prepares for a Hanukkah party at the synagogue, three latkes jump right out of her frying pan. They head straight for the door, singing, "Big and round, crisp and brown, off we roll to see the town! And You can't catch us!"And so begins the chase. The sassy latkes roll out of the synagogue and through the town with Rebecca and a growing crowd in hot pursuit. Their travels come to an end at Applesauce River, where, by a modern-day Hanukkah miracle, the water actually turns into applesauce -- the perfect bath for three crispy latkes!

Max and his family celebrate the eight nights of Hanukkah. Max takes the menorah down from the shelf and polishes it. His sister picks out the colorful candles, the blessing is said, and the family exchanges gifts with one another.

As a sign of affection for their warm-hearted rabbi, the families of the congregation make Rabbi Benjamin a special holiday vest, complete with four shiny silver buttons. Throughout the year—Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Chanukah, and Passover—the rabbi celebrates with his congregation, unable to resist their delicious home-cooked food. But with each holiday his vest grows tight, tighter, until . . . POP!

On the first Hanukkah since Rachel's grandpa died, Rachel is keeping her grandma company. "Where is your menorah, Grandma?" Rachel asks. When Grandma points to a plain wooden board with tin cylinders, Rachel can't help crying, "It's so ugly!" Then Rachel listens as Grandma tells the menorah's history, and Grandpa seems to fill the house again. That night, when Grandma lights the candles, the experience is intensified -- and the menorah is transformed. In gentle words and pictures that weave together past and present, Marissa Moss creates a warm family story with a timeless theme.

Moishe's Miracle author Laura Krauss Melmed and illustrator Elisabeth Schlossberg celebrate Hanukkahin joyful action rhymes, festive poems, and exuberant scenes of family life. From traditional holiday foods to the story of the Maccabees, they capture the warm sights, sounds, and tastes of this wintertime festival.

On the first night of Chanukah a lucky boy receives a shiny new dreidel, but once it starts spinning it just won’t stop! With a mind of its own, the dreidel spins quickly across the floor, out the door, and on down the street, with its excited owner and family in hot pursuit. Soon the whole city joins the chase to catch the runaway toy. Where is that dreidel heading, and will it ever stop spinning? This is one journey worth pursuing right up to its magical conclusion!

When Sam's classmates take turns talking about which holiday they celebrate, Sam becomes very nervous. Some people celebrate Christmas and some people celebrate Hanukkah. But Sam celebrates both!

Rachel Rosenstein is determined to celebrate Christmas this year—and the fact that her family is Jewish is not going to stop her. In a series of hilarious and heartwarming mishaps, Rachel writes a letter to Santa explaining her cause, pays him a visit at the mall, and covertly decorates her house on Christmas Eve (right down to latkes for Santa and his reindeer). And while Rachel may wrestle with her culture, customs, and love of sparkly Christmas ornaments, she also comes away with a brighter understanding of her own identity and of the gift of friends and family.

Trisha loves the eight days of Hanukkah, when her mother stays home from work, her Babushka makes delicious potato latkes, and her Grampa carves wonderful animals out of wood as gifts for Trisha and her brother. In the middle of her family's preparation for the festival of lights, Trisha visits her closest neighbors, expecting to find them decorating their house for Christmas. Instead they are all bedridden with scarlet fever. Trisha's family is one of the few who has been spared from the epidemic. It is difficult for them to enjoy their Hanukkah feast when they know that their neighbors won't be able to celebrate their holiday. Then Grampa has an inspiration: they will cut down trees, decorate them, and secretly deliver them to the neighbors, "But what can we decorate them with?" Babushka asks. Although it is a sacrifice, Trisha realizes that Grampa's carved animals are the perfect answer. Soon her living room is filled with trees -- but that is only the first miracle of many during an incredible holiday season.

From the creator of the bestselling My Love For You comes this joyful rendering of a favorite Hanukkah song. Celebrate with a family of mice as they dance the horah, spin the dreidel, and eat delicious latkes to honor the festival of lights. Musical notes are included, so parents and children can sing along for eight happy nights.

In the tradition of the best-selling The Christmas Surprise and The Golden Egg comes this sweet story of the Hanukkah mice. With flaps hiding shiny foil suprises, readers will find a different Hanukkah tradition on each page, until the very end when they finally discover the beautiful menorah, with all eight candles burning bright.

Noah is a young boy who loves Hanukkah, but his favorite thing in the whole world is trucks. Why aren't they part of the Hanukkah celebration? In this story, Noah devises a way to have a Festival of Trucks along with the Festival of Lights, each honoring the brave Maccabees.

It's Hanukkah! It's a time to celebrate family and enjoy festive traditions. As Rachel and her parents prepare the house, grandparents, cousins, and friends travel from near and far to sing and tell stories. Together, they will light candles, play games, and eat scrumptuous holiday foods... and, of course, dance the Hanukkah Hop. The stamping, the hopping, and the bim-bim-bopping is sure to go on all night!

Every night of Hanukkah, after Owen -- the Official Candle Lighter -- lights the menorah, Grandma Karen kicks off her cowboy boots and tells him a bedtime story. On the first night there's the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of becoming a rabbi. On the fourth night there's the amazing story of the alien who gets lost in a little girl's backyard. And on the seventh night there's the silly story about a boy who wants to be a baby...and whose parents let him! Join Owen in discovering how each of these stories is also a celebration of his own heritage in this heartwarming book about faith, family, and the miracle of Hanukkah.

This stunning novelty book, now in paperback features bold graphic artwork and die-cuts in the shape of candles, and simply explains the Hanukkah story and teaches children to count from one to eight.

Say "Happy Hanukkah!" with this joyful story of one family's holiday celebration, from spinning dreidels to cooking yummy latkes to lighting the menorah together. With sweet, lyrical text and warm illustrations, this is the perfect way to celebrate the festival of lights.

Shmelf is one of Santa's most important elves. He's part of the List Checking department, and he makes sure all the good boys and girls get their presents! But when Shmelf finds out that some children are missing from Santa's list, he goes to investigate. What Shmelf uncovers is Hanukkah, a wondrous and joyful holiday that Jewish families celebrate each year. As Shmelf observes a family lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and hearing the Hanukkah story, he sees how special the traditions of the holiday truly are-and he wants to be a part of it! Luckily, Santa just might have a special role in mind for Shmelf....

Hanukkah is a very busy time! Join the young rabbi as she makes festive preparations--spinning the dreidel, cooking a tasty meal, lighting the menorah, and more--in this cumulative, rhyming story reminding readers of the Hanukkah miracle of long ago! Learn about Hanukkah's festivities and rituals, and about the Jewish holiday itself.