Hanukkah Reads from Hilde’s Hacienda!

by Hilde Garcia

It’s the second night of Hannukah and there’s still plenty of time to find good Hannukah books and order online!

With over night shipping at your fingertips, you’ll be able to get your books by the 8th night before the sun dips.

Here are the tried and true favorites at my house.

Here’s hoping they are for you, whether they are to gift or for your little mouse.

PRE SCHOOL CHOICES

1. This is the Dreidel by Abby Levine

This story is told in the style of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Each page builds on the next as it tells Max’s story of how he celebrates Hanukkah. It also includes a mini dictionary of some Hanukkah terms.

2. On the First Night of Chanukah by Cecily Kaiser
We all remember the familiar song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Well this book introduces the eight nights of Hanukkah. And on the fifth night instead of 5 Golden Rings, we get 5 Chocolate Gelt. Yummy.

3. Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah by Susan L. Roth
This very soothing song encompasses a very popular melody, O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree and tells the young reader about lighting candles for eight days. The illustrations are beautiful, done by ???

4. I Have a Little Dreidel by Maxim Baum

This is a great songbook, where you sing the dreidel song as you read it. This book has ten verses to describe an entire Hanukkah experiences as well as a recipe and how to play the dreidel game. It even has the sheet music at the very end to play the dreidel song yourself.

KINDERGARTEN- 2nd GRADE

1. A Chanukkah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel

Poor Bubbe Brayna! Her eyesight isn't very good and she ends up sharing her latkes with a very hairy guest, a bear. This story will certainly make you laugh!

2. Mrs Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser

Rachel doesn't feel like it will be Hanukkah without her neighbor Mrs. Greenberg or any latkes. Her parents are too busy with errands so she devises a plan. And what a messy plan it is. Rachels good sentiments in the end teach her parents a great lesson and brings happiness to Mrs. Greenberg for Hanukkah.

3. The Magic Dreidels, A Hanukkah Story by Eric A. Kimmel
A great story about the consequences of our actions that will have your child rooting for Jacob all the way. And who wouldn't want magic dreidels that make latkes?

4. Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat, A Hanukkah Story by Naomi Howland
This is told in the spirit of Tomie dePaola’s, Strega Nona. It includes a recipe and the origins of the holiday too.

3rd - 5th GRADE

1. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel

This is one of my favorite stories. It’s a great story about how Hershel outwits the goblins to restore Hanukkah to the neighboring village of Ostropol. It shows that our greatest weapon is not strength but intelligence.

2. Zigazak, A Magical Hanukkah Night by Eric Kimmel

A marvelous story of how the Rabbi of Brisk rids the town of two pesky Hanukkah devils that were ruining the town’s celebration. This book has great potential for interactiveness as my children love to repeat zigazak all throughout the story. It also exemplifies for young readers how you can solve problems with your wits and not your fist.

3. Hanukkah, Shmanukkah! by Esmé Raji Codell
A fabulous retelling of Scrooge’s tale. The Rabbi of Hannukah Past arrives to transport Scroogemacher “to hotzeplotz and back to see that Hanukah is nothing to sneeze at.”

4. Hanukkah by Miriam Chaikin
A historical account told simply but honestly about King Atiochus’ hatred for the Hews. This book gives dates, facts and beautiful illustrations by Ellen Weiss that are akin to historical depictions with just the right touch of color to catch a young reader’s interest. We learn in this book that Hanukkah means to dedicate.

FOR EVERYONE

1. The Eight Nights of Hanukkah by Judy Nayer

This storybook not only includes the story of Hanukkah  as it is told by one family, but gives you many Hanukkah activities and traditions that you can share with your children. Each night in the book is interspersed with an activity. Among the activities are how to make a dreidel, latkes and Hanukkah cards. It tells you of the history and meaning of the holiday. It shares with you the song and the prayer for the candles. Children can make Star of David picture frames and a Maccabee shields. There is also a Hanukkah memory game you can create as well as a gelt holder for all those chocolate coins.

No matter what you celebrate, have a safe and happy season of holidays and may you have light in everything you do and that you leave a magic sparkles everywhere you go.