Hanukkah

‘Eight Nights, Eight Lights’ is a story picture book exploring the celebration of Chanukah (or Hanukkah), the Jewish Festival of Lights. With warm and inviting illustrations, the book brings the celebration to life, as we follow Max and his family, and other members of their Jewish community, through the eight days and nights of the festival.

The colour palette used in the book is really lovely, and the story is full of food, friendships, family, and fun. As a jumping off point in a topic on the Jewish faith and its festivals, this is a super resource and could lead to numerous activities, including making the food and playing the games described in the story. Highly recommended for school libraries and in any classroom for topic work on Judaism.

This is a super picture book from Ivor Baddiel and Kathryn Selbert, setting out the different elements of the Hanukkah celebration. The illustrations are warm, homey and colourful, with lots to notice in the pictures. We follow Leora and her extended family through the first evening of Hanukkah, enjoying family time, games and gifts, as well as a helpful retelling of the miracle and significance of the menorah lamp in language simple enough for young children to grasp.

It is also a coming-of-age story for Leora as she is now old enough to take on the responsibility of lighting the first candle, something she is very excited about!

A book in many parts, this full-colour information book starts as a picture book with the main character, Lior, whose name means ‘light’, explaining how he and his family celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. They prepare the house and the food, play dreidel games and then welcome guests, explaining each of the components of the festival, and the origin story. The pictures are endearing and inclusive, featuring Lior’s dog, as well as grandparents, friends, neighbours and classmates, one of whom is in a wheelchair.

The book also features a great deal of non-fiction content, some as part of the story, such as the blessings said over the Hanukkah candles (both in transliterated Hebrew and English), as well as a large fully non-fiction section at the back that explains the Hebrew calendar, the story of Hanukkah and some craft activities. It’s an excellent book for those already with a basic understanding of the festival, but might be almost too much detail for those with no knowledge. However, it is colourful, comprehensive, and easy to read, and makes the festival feel as light and joyous as it should be.