Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights, has just begun. These books—an assortment for all ages—will help set the celebratory mood as you light candles, sing songs, spin dreidels, open gifts, and gather around the table with loved ones.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's 8 Nights of Chanukah by Eric Carle

Light the menorah, spin the dreidel, sing songs, and so much more in this sweet board book! This festive counting story makes for a fine holiday gift for fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, all while introducing young readers to the wonderful traditions of Chanukah.

 

 

 

The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Godol by Arthur A. Levine, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Introducing Nate Gadol, a new larger-than-life holiday hero who brings Hanukkah wonder and generosity to all those in need. He is a generous spirit whose magic can make things last exactly as long an they're needed. When the Glaser family immigrates to the United States, their first Hanukkah looks like it will be a meager one. And their neighbors are struggling too, with money scarce and Christmas around the corner. Even Santa's spirits are running low. Luckily, Nate Gadol has enough magic to make this a miraculous holiday for all.

The Golden Dreidel by Ellen Kushner

Receiving a one-of-a-kind Chanukah gift—an enormous golden dreidel—Sara discovers that there’s much more to the dreidel than meets the eye when she spins herself into a whole new world and must rely on her courage to find her way back home.

This title is available in print or as a simultaneous e-book (no limit to number of users at any one time).

 

 

It's a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories edited by Katherine Locke & Laura Silverman 

From stories of confronting their relationships with Judaism to rom-coms with a side of bagels and lox, It's a Whole Spiel features one story after another that says yes, we are Jewish, but we are also queer, and disabled, and creative, and political, and adventurous, and anything we want to be.

 

 

 

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

When her publisher insists that she write a Hanukkah romance, Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt, a Jewish woman with a secret career as a Christmas romance novelist, unexpectedly finds inspiration when she encounters a childhood aquaintance at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah.

 

 

 

Eat Something: A Wise Sons Cookbook for Jews Who Like Food and Food Lovers Who Like Jews by Evan Bloom & Rachel Levin

A nationally recognized Jewish food brand provides a lighthearted, humorous and delicious cookbook celebrating 19 different events and holidays in Jewish life, from bris to shivah, with traditional dishes including Mandel Bread, Potato Kugel and Wonton Kreplach.

 

 

 

Jewish Holiday Baking: Inspired Recipes for Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, and More by Uri Scheft with Raquel Pelzel

Bake your way through the Jewish holidays with 25 insanely delicious, foolproof recipes—including Poppy Seed Hamantaschen for Purim, Coconut Macaroons for Passover, Apple Babka for Rosh Hashanah, jam-filled Sufganiyot for Hanukkah, and so much more. These dishes from master baker Uri Scheft, author of Breaking Breads, capture the Old World/New World/out-of-this-world flavors of contemporary Jewish and Israeli cuisine.

 

The Hanukkah Anthology edited by Philip Goodman

The Hanukkah Anthology delves into the stories and messages of Hanukkah as they have unfolded in Jewish literature over the past two thousand years: biblical intimations of the festival, postbiblical writings, selections from the Talmud and midrashim, excerpts from medieval books, home liturgies, laws and customs, observances in different nations, stories and poems, art, and recipes.

 

 

 

We wrote a similar post in 2015 with more great Hanukkah-themed books to check out: One for Each Night: Chanukah Books for Every Age

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Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.