10 Hanukkah Books for Kids That Will Delight Everyone in the Family

This Hanukkah book for kids is a graphic novel-style retelling of the story of the Maccabees, if somewhat less gory than it likely was in all reality. It's light and entertaining but really gives kids a ton of insight into the holiday's historical significance and the power of the holiday.

I've read this book to my family so many times that I can basically quote the entire thing. This is a graphic novel-style retelling of the story of the Maccabees, if somewhat less gory than it likely was in all reality.

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Easily one of the most popular Hanukkah books for kids ever written, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins follows Jewish trickster Hershel of Ostropol as he challenges a series of goblins over the eight days of Hanukkah, eventually going against the Goblin King himself. It's a classic for a reason.

Bubbe Brayna is a master chef in the kitchen, even though her eyes and ears aren't what they used to be. Her latkes are as crispy and delicious as ever, and their oniony-potato fragrance travels far. So far that it wakes a hibernating bear who comes into Bubbe's house to enjoy her labor, and Bubbe mistakes him for her Rabbi! Much hilarity and sweetness ensue.

In this Hanukkah book for kids, Simon, the main character, makes the trek across the Atlantic with only some food, a Hanukkah menorah, candles, and matches. On the way, his boat hits an iceberg, and he gives his seat up on a lifeboat for another passenger. The poor boy is left alone on that iceberg but along comes a polar bear, and Simon being Simon, shares his herring and lakes with the bear, who keeps him warm and safe. On the seventh night, when he lights the menorah, something magical happens.

It's a sweet Hanukkah book for kids with beautiful illustrations and a beautiful message.

In a beautiful celebration of a multiethnic home, this Hanukkah book for kids, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas, features an Indian-Jewish sibling set, frequently at odds with one another, as siblings are wont to be.

Little Sophie frequently irritates her brother by climbing over everything, but when locked out of the house on Hanukkah, her climbing may be what saves them.

I love that this story includes different diasporic traditions. In Sophie's house, they don't fry latkes for Hanukkah, they fry dosas. In my own Chinese-Jewish home, we add dumplings and spring rolls to our fryer. Judaism is a world religion with many ways to celebrate holidays, and this book really encompasses that.

This is a really simple and sugary-sweet story about a little girl who loves her puppy, Biscuit, and she talks to him, telling him all about the traditions of Hanukkah. He “helps” her with the menorah, with nosh (of course), and generally just keeps by her side as she celebrates the holiday.

This Hanukkah book for kids highlights one of the biggest mitzvot (commandments) to the Jewish people: help those less fortunate.

Gracie's family isn't wealthy, but they love deeply and truly. Gracie somehow saves enough money to buy her grandfather a few Hanukkah presents but finds herself at a crossroads when she is confronted with those who have even less than her family.

I promise this book is not at all reminiscent of another children's book with a titular spider. Sammy is just a happy spider guy hanging out at Josh Shapiro's house, and this time our eight-legged friend is observing the Shapiros light the Hanukkah candles on the eighth night of the holiday.

A girl and her dog, right? This Hanukkah book is a wild romp starring a rambunctious girl and her equally exuberant dog. They try on Purim costumes, find the menorah, and express joy over the various fun elements of the Hanukkah holiday. It’s all about children’s hijinks and the happiness of the holiday.

A little magic and mystery surround this Hanukkah book for kids. The story happens in a toyshop run by a cheerful, kind man.

During Hanukkah, two spoiled, mean children come in and find that the dreidel won't spin for them. They go full Veruca Salt on the shopkeeper, blaming him for the problem — but the shopkeeper wonders if a child with the truest meaning of the holiday in their heart can make the dreidel spin.