Highlighting some Hanukkah Reads

Highlighting some Hanukkah Reads

This year, Hanukkah will begin at sundown on the evening of Sunday, November 28 and last for eight days and nights. This annual Jewish holiday commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Using a small amount of oil to light the Temple’s menorah, the Jewish people were surprised to find that the one-day supply lasted for eight. This is why Hanukkah is called the Festival of Light and is celebrated for eight days each year.

Each night, families gather around the menorah (a nine-branch candle holder), recite special blessings, and a new candle is lit to remember the miracle at the Temple. Since the miracle involved oil, it is tradition to eat fried foods like potato latkes and jelly-filled donuts called sufganiyot.

To learn more about this holiday and other Jewish holidays and traditions, visit Chabad.org

In honour of this special holiday, here are a few of the Hanukkah books in our collection:

Books for Children

Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel

Is it Hanukkah yet? by Nancey E. Krulik

Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe

Oskar and the Eight Blessings Richard Simon

Boris and Stella and the Perfect Gift by Dara Goldman

Runaway Dreidel! By Leslea Newman

Rise and Shine by Karen Ostrove

Sam I am by Ilene Cooper

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah!: a treasury of stories, songs, and games to share

Find more Hanukkah children’s books in our library catalogue!

 Books for Adults

The Latke in the Library & other mystery stories for Chanukah by Libi Astaire

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

Jewish Literacy: the most important things to know about the Jewish religion, its people, and its history by Joseph Telushkin

Jewish Holiday Baking by Uri Scheft

Co-written with Becky Waldman, the Marketing & Communications Coordinator at the Peterborough Public Library.

Hanukkah Sameach! | Happy Hanukkah!