Hanukkah books have come a long way in the past few years and luckily there are some great options out there to fill your bookshelves. So take a look at some of our family’s favorites and hopefully they can help light up your nights as well! And please share what books you are enjoying this season with me through email or tag @jewishphoenix in your Facebook and Instagram photos.

photo of "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" book by Eric KimmelHershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
by Eric Kimmel
It may not be new, but this is one of the books that I have fond memories of reading as a kid, and I love being able to watch my 6-year-old’s face light up when we open this book. Hershel is a tired traveler who arrives in a small village on the first night of Hanukkah hoping to find warmth and comfort in the lights and latkes that should fill Hanukkah tables. However, he finds that frightening goblins have taken over the synagogue and no one can celebrate the festival of lights. Hershel stands up to the goblins to save Hanukkah and bring light back to the small town. The colorful images and Hershel’s harrowing tale have made this classic story a family favorite.

photo of "The Great Latke Cook Off" book by Lauren Muskovitz RanalliThe Great Latke Cook Off
by Lauren Ranalli
This book is a newer addition to our family’s book collection, but quickly became a favorite. The story is about a friendly, family competition about who can make the best latkes, a potato pancake that is one of the traditional holiday foods eaten during Hanukkah. Will Mom’s special ingredients win the blue ribbon? Will Dad’s grilling technique win over the judges? Or will Grandma win with her classic recipe that she has been making for years? Find out on the eighth night of Hanukkah in this book that is a fun read for the whole family.

photo of "Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah" book by Linda GlaserMrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah
by Linda Glaser
As most moms can probably relate, cooking with your kids can be a bit challenging. In this book, Rachel visits with her neighbor Mrs. Greenberg, convinces her to make latkes and, predictably, it turns into quite the mess. But despite the spilled ingredients and kitchen chaos, Mrs. Greenberg patiently helps Rachel create the holiday staple to share with Rachel’s family for Hanukkah. Having visitors to spend the holiday with helps Mrs. Greenberg overlook her messy kitchen and enjoy the warmth and comfort of spending Hanukkah with friends. And while I am not quite ready to break out the flour and eggs with my little ones, this story definitely warms my heart and reminds us to reach out to people living alone to share some holiday joy.

photo of "I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Dreidel" book by Caryn YacowitzI Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel
by Caryn Yacowitz
We received this book a few years ago from PJ Library, an organization that sends free books to Jewish families each month, and it was read almost every single night for a month. The sing-songy lyrics (think I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly) tells the story of an old lady who accidently swallows a dreidel while eating a bagel. She decides to eat her way through more Hanukkah foods and symbols in order to help “wash it all down,” but will it be fatal? Find out in this fun and easy read full of colorful pictures that are based off of classic works of art like the Mona Lisaand American Gothicdone by the talented David Slonim. This book is sure to become a family favorite for you, too.

photo of "Grover's Eight Nights of Light" book from Sesame StreetGrover’s Eight Nights of Light
by Jodie Shepard
If you have a household full of Sesame Street fans, you definitely want to check out this book. In the book, Grover spends each of the eight nights welcoming in friends and teaching them about Hanukkah. The familiar characters make it fun for kids while Grover explains the different symbols and meanings behind the holiday traditions. Cookie Monster trades in his cookies for some delicious latkes, Oscar cracks a smile while playing dreidel and Prairie Dawn joins in the fun by singing Hanukkah songs with Grover and his family. And I especially love that they brought up the tradition of giving tzedakah or charity to those in need during Hanukkah since it is an important yet often overlooked holiday tradition.

photo of "The Night Before Hanukkah" book by Natasha WingThe Night Before Hanukkah
by Natasha Wing
This book is such a cute version of the familiar story, “The Night Before Christmas.” Gelt replaces sugarplums, the menorah was set by the window with care, and then the eight nights of Hanukkah are celebrated. Beautifully illustrated and fun to read, this book really shares the spirit of Hanukkah covering the importance of sharing, covers most of the Hanukkah symbols, and also tells the story of the miracle of Hanukkah. It’s a perfect book to get little ones excited about all of the fun things coming during the festival of lights.

photo of "Meet the Latkes" book by Alan SilberbergMeet the Latkes
by Alan Silberberg
This book is such a favorite that it is read year-round in our house! Fun illustrations and silly characters tell the story of Hanukkah in a pretty unique way as Lucy Latke, Grandpa Latke, the rest of the Latke family (including dog, Applesauce) celebrate Hanukkah. Grandpa’s exaggerated story of alien potatoes and great mega bees are sure to have you and your kids laughing, and of course there is Applesauce nearby to correct all the tall tales. Definitely a Hanukkah must-read!

photo of the cover of "The Ninth Night of Hanukkah" by Erica S. PerlThe Ninth Night of Hanukkah
by Erica S. Perl
Our most recent PJ Library addition has been a huge hit! The story is about a young family who moves into a new home on the first night of Hanukkah. Only they can’t find anything they need to make it “really feel like Hanukkah.” With the help of their neighbors, each night they search for the missing piece to make Hanukkah really special. They decide to extend Hanukkah one more night in order to thank their helpful neighbors and celebrate the “Shamash” night. A very cute story filled with nice lessons about the holiday and ritual. My kids have loved this book, and I’m guessing they will also insist on adding a ninth night to our Hanukkah celebration this year.

This list has been expanded from the original blog that appeared on DesertMomsBlog.com in November 2018.

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