The Best Hanukkah Books for Toddlers and Kids
Discover the best Hanukkah books for toddlers and kids! Explore picture books, board books, and classics that celebrate Hanukkah traditions, the Festival of Lights, and the joy of family.
The holiday season is such a magical time of year, filled with light, family gatherings, and special foods. While many families are decorating a Christmas tree or watching Christmas movies, Jewish families around the world are preparing to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
If you’re a parent of toddlers or young children, one of the best ways to share the story of Hanukkah and its traditions is through books. Reading picture books and board books together is a great way to introduce your little ones to the miracle of Hanukkah, the joy of family gatherings, and the traditions that make this holiday so special.
Whether you’re looking for Hanukkah books for toddlers to add to your bedtime routine, or you want to build a collection of children’s books about Jewish holidays for your whole family, this list of the best Hanukkah books for kids has you covered. These titles make a perfect gift, a cozy family read-aloud during the nights of Hanukkah, as a resource for explaining the symbols of Hanukkah to kids, or a fun addition to your stack of seasonal reads from the local library.
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What Is Hanukkah and Why Is It Celebrated?
Before we dive into the books, here’s a little background you can share with your young readers:
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that usually falls in late November or December, depending on the new moon. Sometimes called the Festival of Lights, it celebrates the victory of Judah Maccabee and the Maccabees over the Syrian army more than 2,000 years ago, as well as the miracle of Hanukkah: though there was only enough oil to light the holy temple menorah for one day, the flame burned for eight.
During the celebration of Hanukkah, Jewish families light the Hanukkah menorah (or hanukkiah), eat special foods like latkes with applesauce or sour cream and jelly donuts, and play dreidel games. Families often exchange small gifts, read stories and enjoy music together.
Why Hanukkah Books Matter for Kids
Reading Hanukkah picture books helps toddlers and preschoolers connect to the traditions of the holiday in a tangible way. Stories with favorite characters like Curious George, Biscuit or Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Cookie Monster make the holiday relatable for even the littlest learners.
For older readers, more detailed children’s books provide a deeper look at the history of Hanukkah, Jewish folklore, and the meaning behind the Hanukkah rituals.
Books also help interfaith families—whether your household celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas, or you’re simply raising kids with an awareness of many holiday celebrations—find a better way to honor all traditions.
The Best Hanukkah Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers
These Hanukkah stories are perfect for young children, from babies just starting to enjoy board books to preschoolers who love silly rhymes and sweet characters. To make it easy I’ve added them all to a shoppable list here; just click to learn more about each of these books.
- The Story of Hanukkah by David Adler (our family reads this one on the first night of Hanukkah
each year) - Dreidel Day by Amalia Hoffman
- Hanukkah: A Counting Book by Emily Sper
- Happy Hanukkah, Curious George by H. A. and Margret Rey
- Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel! by Shahar Kober
- Hanukkah Is Coming! by Tracy Newman
- Hanukkah Delight! by Lesléa Newman
- Latke, the Lucky Dog by Ellen Fischer (such a great story!)
- Chanukah Lights Everywhere by Michael J. Rosen
- Biscuit’s Hanukkah by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
- How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Jane Yolen
- Happy Hanukkah Corduroy by Don Freeman
- Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe
- Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah by Sylvia A. Rouss
The Best Hanukkah Books for Elementary-Age Kids
If you’re searching for Hanukkah books for kids in kindergarten through elementary school, these children’s books share a mix of humor, history, and heartwarming tales.
- The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin by Martha Seif Simpson
- Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel (author of the beloved Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins)
- Moishe’s Miracle by Laura Krauss Melmed
- The Night Before Hanukkah by Natasha Wing
- The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica S. Perl
- Jeremy’s Dreidel by Ellie Gellman
- Little Red Ruthie: A Hanukkah Tale by Gloria Koster
Additional Favorite Hanukkah Books to Add to Your Shelf
Looking for more options? Here are a few more staff picks, new releases, and classic children’s books that make wonderful additions to any Jewish family library—or as a perfect gift for a friend:
- Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel (a true classic of Jewish folklore)
- Hanukkah Moon by Deborah Da Costa (introduces luna nueva, or the new moon)
- The Golden Dreidel by Ellen Kushner (a magical twist on a Hanukkah adventure)
- Seymour’s Hanukkah Miracle by Brenda Ferber (a newer title with a sweet hanukkah miracle message)
- Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko (a beautiful story for interfaith families)
- Mensch on a Bench by Neal Hoffman (think Elf on the Shelf, but for Hanukkah!)
How to Use These Books in Your Hanukkah Celebration
These books are not just stories—they’re an invitation to make memories. Here are some fun ways to use them in your Hanukkah traditions:
- Read a different book on each of the nights of Hanukkah as you light Hanukkah candles together.
- Pair your read-aloud with special foods—like a latke recipe, jelly donuts, or even gingerbread dreidels.
- Encourage young readers to create their own art projects inspired by the stories (think construction paper menorahs, or a drawing of a beautiful butterfly in the style of Eric Carle).
- Share books with your extended family during a Hanukkah party, letting kids perform a short poem or act out scenes.
- Donate a copy of your favorite Hanukkah books to your child’s classroom so more kids can learn about the celebration of Hanukkah.
Final Thoughts: Building Your Hanukkah Library
The best Hanukkah books for toddlers and Hanukkah books for kids are the ones that spark curiosity, teach traditions of Hanukkah, and celebrate the joy of family. Whether you’re lighting candles for your first Hanukkah or adding to your collection for the rest of the latke family, books are the perfect way to help kids connect with this special holiday.
If you’re also building your holiday season library, check out The Best Christmas Books for Babies and Toddlers, too.
Wishing you and your whole family a very Happy Hanukkah filled with light, laughter and love.
