Chanukah Reads and Music for Kids

Want to curl up with your kids and read a good book or listen to some holiday-related tunes? Robin Schwartz and Ruth Abrams, former editors for InterfaithFamily.com, have family-friendly suggestions they’ve already tried out with their young sons.

Books

“I Have a Little Dreidel” by Maxie Baum
This favorite Chanukah song is embellished with charming folk-art illustrations for kids.

“Hanukkah, Shmanukkah!” by Esme Raji Codell
In this picture book for older children, the author retells Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” but replaces Yule customs with those of the Festival of Lights.

“The Winter Witch” by Clay Bonnyman Evans
A newly blended family celebrates the holidays and finds some common meaning in the holidays from their different traditions.

“Where Is Baby’s Dreidel?” by Karen Katz
In this lift-the-flap book, kids follow the story of a baby looking for his dreidel by uncovering what’s under each flap.

“Light the Lights!” by Margaret Moorman
This book focuses on one household’s joyous celebrations of Chanukah and Christmas. The paintings show Emma helping her father light the menorah and decorating the Christmas tree with her mother.

“A Grandma Like Yours/A Grandpa Like Yours” by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum
In this book, each of the families shown is portrayed as a different animal, and the stories show the natural love of grandparents for their children and the love and respect grandchildren show in return.

“Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah” by Sylvia A. Rouss
In this colorful book, Sammy watches longingly as a young boy lights candles and receives dreidels on Hanukkah. A fun way to review colors and numbers.

“It’s a Miracle!: A Hanukkah Storybook” by Stephanie Spinner
A grandmother tells her grandson a family story each night of Hanukkah. The stories are moving and funny and the relatives compelling.

“There’s No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein” by Susan Sussman
This story about a young Jewish girl at Christmastime promotes understanding and teaches children to take pride in their own cultures and religions and share these special things with others.

Music

“ShirLaLa Chanukah!” by Shira Kline
Shira Kline presents a lively musical storytelling of Judah Maccabee and the Chanukah miracle, followed by spirited and dynamic music in many styles to get kids excited and dancing.

“Hanukkah Rocks” by The LeeVees
This album, full of Hanukkah novelty tunes that are clever and catchy, will appeal to both kids and parents.

“It’s Chanukah Time” by Julie Silver

This album from Boston-born folk singer Julie Silver has a folksy reggae lilt that’s engaging for the whole family.