Eight Crazy Nights, or Books for Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah, folks. The Jewish festival of lights starts this evening at sundown. Last year readers and fellow bloggers helped me compile the following list of book recommendations, which I re-post with gratitude and pleasure. Also be sure to see the blog Wild Rose Reader, which offers a whole bunch of suggestions.

My First Chanukah, by Tomie DePaola

Eric Kimmel's Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins; The Magic Dreidels; Zigazak! A Magical Hanukkah Night; and The Chanukkah Guest (For even more Hanukkah picture books by Eric Kimmel, visit his web site.)

Steven Schnur's Tie Man's Miracle

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes, by Linda Glaser

In the Month of Kislev, by Nina Jaffe

Hanukkah Lights: Holiday Poetry, an easy reader compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins. (This is one of our favorite "discoveries" last year. My son and I read it many times.)

Chanukah Lights Everywhere, by Michael J. Rosen

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate, by Janice Cohn

Deborah Heiligman's Celebrate Hanukkah

All-of-a-Kind Family books by Sydney Taylor

Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights, by Leslie Kimmelman

Shira's Hanukkah Gift (a.k.a., Kugel Valley Klezmer Band), by Joan Betty Stuchner

Hanukkah, O Hannukah, by Susan L. Roth

Elijah's Angel: A Story for Chanukah and Christmas, by Michael J. Rosen

There's No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein, by Susan Sussman

I Have a Little Dreidel, by Maxie Baum

The  Eight Crazy Nights reference comes from Adam Sandler's "Chanukah Song."

Edited to add these recommendations and comments from reader Heidi Estrin, who hosts The Book of Life podcast and directs the library at Congregation B'Nai Israel, in Boca Raton, Florida. Thanks, Heidi!

When Mindy Saved Hanukkah, by Eric A. Kimmel

The Runaway Latkes, by Leslie Kimmelman, a riff on the gingerbread man

The Eight Nights of Chanukah, by Leslea Newman, sung to the tune of 12 days of Xmas

Alexandra's Scroll, by Miriam Chaikin, a chapter book historical novel set in the time of the Maccabees

Hanukkah Moon, by Deborah da Costa, picture book about Mexican Hanukkah customs

Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale, by Sarah Lamstein, a mystical and beautiful picture book about faith in God

Like a Maccabee, by Barbara Bietz, a contemporary family story with a soccer theme

Kelly, from MsAbcMom, adds:

Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat, by Naomi Howland

Wild Rose Reader's Elaine remembers one more:

Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story, by Laura Krauss Melmed

Happy Hanukkah, folks. The Jewish festival of lights starts this evening at sundown. Last year readers and fellow bloggers helped me compile the following list of book recommendations, which I re-post with gratitude and pleasure. Also be sure to see the blog Wild Rose Reader, which offers a whole bunch of suggestions.

My First Chanukah, by Tomie DePaola

Eric Kimmel's Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins; The Magic Dreidels; Zigazak! A Magical Hanukkah Night; and The Chanukkah Guest (For even more Hanukkah picture books by Eric Kimmel, visit his web site.)

Steven Schnur's Tie Man's Miracle

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes, by Linda Glaser

In the Month of Kislev, by Nina Jaffe

Hanukkah Lights: Holiday Poetry, an easy reader compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins. (This is one of our favorite "discoveries" last year. My son and I read it many times.)

Chanukah Lights Everywhere, by Michael J. Rosen

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate, by Janice Cohn

Deborah Heiligman's Celebrate Hanukkah

All-of-a-Kind Family books by Sydney Taylor

Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights, by Leslie Kimmelman

Shira's Hanukkah Gift (a.k.a., Kugel Valley Klezmer Band), by Joan Betty Stuchner

Hanukkah, O Hannukah, by Susan L. Roth

Elijah's Angel: A Story for Chanukah and Christmas, by Michael J. Rosen

There's No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein, by Susan Sussman

I Have a Little Dreidel, by Maxie Baum

The  Eight Crazy Nights reference comes from Adam Sandler's "Chanukah Song."

Edited to add these recommendations and comments from reader Heidi Estrin, who hosts The Book of Life podcast and directs the library at Congregation B'Nai Israel, in Boca Raton, Florida. Thanks, Heidi!

When Mindy Saved Hanukkah, by Eric A. Kimmel

The Runaway Latkes, by Leslie Kimmelman, a riff on the gingerbread man

The Eight Nights of Chanukah, by Leslea Newman, sung to the tune of 12 days of Xmas

Alexandra's Scroll, by Miriam Chaikin, a chapter book historical novel set in the time of the Maccabees

Hanukkah Moon, by Deborah da Costa, picture book about Mexican Hanukkah customs

Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale, by Sarah Lamstein, a mystical and beautiful picture book about faith in God

Like a Maccabee, by Barbara Bietz, a contemporary family story with a soccer theme

Kelly, from MsAbcMom, adds:

Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat, by Naomi Howland

Wild Rose Reader's Elaine remembers one more:

Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story, by Laura Krauss Melmed

Comments

[Heidi]

I'd like to suggest a few more titles for your list, if I may. How about:
- When Mindy Saved Hanukkah by Eric A. Kimmel (I know you listed Kimmel, but this one is such a favorite of mine I had to mention it)
- The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman, a riff on the gingerbread man
- The Eight Nights of Chanukah by Leslea Newman, sung to the tune of 12 days of Xmas
- Alexandra's Scroll by Miriam Chaikin, a chapter book historical novel set in the time of the Maccabees
- Hanukkah Moon by Deborah da Costa, picture book about Mexican Hanukkah customs
- Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale by Sarah Lamstein, a mystical and beautiful picture book about faith in God
- Like a Maccabee by Barbara Bietz, a contemporary family story with a soccer theme

[Susan T.]

Wow, Heidi. Thanks so much. I'll add these later this afternoon when I have some time to link them, too. Excellent!

[Kelly]

I have another, Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat. I read thqt one at a storytime at our local Border's this year. It was a cute story and the kids like to chime in chanting the title throughout the story.

[Susan T.]

Oh, good. Thanks, Kelly.

[Elaine Magliaro]

Susan,

I never got around to posting a review of MOISHE'S MIRACLE: A HANUKKAH STORY, which was written by Laura Krauss Melmed and illustrated by David Slonim, at Wild Rose Reader. It's a really good book. I used to read it aloud in my library. It's about a poor milkman and a magic pan. It's a winner of the National Jewish Book Award and was a New York Times Top Ten Picture Book of the Year.

Thanks for putting the list together!

[Susan T.]

Muchas gracias, Elaine! That's great. I will add it when I get a chance. I found several from this list at the library today and am looking forward to sharing them with Jr. I do enjoy a good list.