Hanukkah will not be complete until you steal a few moments with your nieces and nephews for story time.  There are some wonderful picture books about this special time of the year when families come together.

Here’s a short list of our favorite Hanukkah books that will both educate and entertain for years to come:



The Hanuakkah Mice
By Ronne Randall
Illustrated by Maggie Kneen

Preschoolers will adore this colorful, lift-the-flap book about young mice who learn all about the symbols of Hanukkah.  Each flap hides a shiny foiled surprise which adds to the visual appeal in young readers and keeps them interested in the whimsical story.




Mrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah
By Linda Glaser
Illustrated by Nancy Cote

The best holiday memories are often made in the heart of the home- the kitchen! And such is the case in this endearing story about a lonely lady who welcomes the company of a little girl who lives in the neighborhood. She makes a big mess in the immaculate kitchen and elicits lots of laughter during an afternoon of latke-making Mrs. Greenberg will never forget.




Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
By Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
 
This Caldecott Honor Book is a must-read for your nieces and nephews, but not for the very little ones! It is the story of Hershel who wanders to a town where the synagogue is haunted by goblins who terrorize the people and ruin all of their Hanukkah activities.  In an adaptation of an old Hanukkah story, Hershel shows the spirit of a man who outwits and outshines the evil spirits so everyone can observe the holiday in peace once more.




Runaway Dreidel
By Leslea Newman
Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
 
Follow a boy on his action-packed chase after an energetic dreidel escapes from his hands and takes him to outer space and back again. Kids will enjoy the fast pace of this rhyming story and learn lots of Hanukkah terminology along the way.




Moishe’s Miracle: A Hanukkah Story
By Laura Krauss Melmed
Illustrated by David Slonim
 
An enchanting story and captivating illustrations best describe Moishe’s Miracle, an original Hanukkah story about generosity. It is the story of a milkman who is scolded by his wife for not collecting enough money from his customers. As a result, they do not have the means to buy the ingredients to make latkes. Then, one magical night, Moishe is given a gift for making latkes that he dare not ruin!


What are your nieces and nephews' favorite Chanukah books?