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Meet the Hanukkah llama, Kugel the dog and others in this year’s inventive crop of kids’ holiday books
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BOOKS | PENNY SCHWARTZ | JTA
Move over, Maccabees. This season’s crop of Hanukkah books for kids puts the spotlight on new heroes, from playful llamas to brave and kind knights on horseback.
Among this year’s highlights is Arthur A. Levine’s “The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol,” a superhero story that comes to life with Kevin Hawkes’ sparkling illustrations.
Over the years, as a children’s book editor, scores of Hanukkah books crossed Levine’s desk, but many were retellings of the same story. “Only a few writers,” he wrote in an email, “were telling imaginary tales that took Hanukkah as a jumping-off point.”
“Nate Gadol” is the kind of story he longed for, one that enhances the cherished Hanukkah traditions with an aura of magic.
This year, as the Covid-19 pandemic prevents families from celebrating Hanukkah with large, festive gatherings, round up the cousins on Zoom, light the menorah, nibble on sufganiyot and share in the joy of a new book.
“The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol.” Just when the world needs a dose of magic, along comes Nate Gadol, a Jewish mythical superhero who sparks joy for those in need. In Levine’s warmhearted tale for 5- to 8-year-olds, the larger-than-life Nate Gadol swoops in to brighten the lives of the Glaser family, poor but kind new immigrants. In the cold winter of 1881 in their urban American apartment, the Glasers stretch what they have to help their neighbors, the O’Malleys. When Hanukkah and Christmas coincide, Nate and Santa help each other out and surprise both families with gifts. The hero’s name is a play on the phrase represented with the four letters on the dreidel, Nes Gadol Haya Sham (A great miracle happened there).
“Happy Llamakkah!” How does a family of llamas celebrate Hanukkah? With Lllamakah, of course! Laura Gehl’s tender rhyming verse is perfect for 3- to 5-year-olds who will enjoy cozying up with endearing little llamas as they light the Hanukkah menorah, play dreidel and build a snow-llama. Lydia Nichols’ cheerful illustrations brighten the pages.
“Kayla and Kugel’s Happy Hanukkah.” The happy pair of Kayla and her rambunctious dog Kugel are back in Ann D. Koffsky’s latest title in the delightful series for 3- to 8-year-olds. As Kayla gets ready to celebrate Hanukkah, she and Kugel are searching for the family’s Hanukkah box. The spunky Kayla explains the origins and traditions of the holiday to Kugel. Koffsky’s color-rich, lively illustrations, including many of the mischievous Kugel, are sure to spark smiles.
“The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story.” On the eve of Hanukkah, a box of colorful candles tucked away in a drawer comes to life in this sweet story. While the big candles bicker about who will be chosen to light the first candle on the menorah, the wise candle notices that it’s the littlest, Flicker, who is always helping others. When Flicker is chosen as the shamash (helper), the small purplish candle humbly shines in the highest place on the menorah. The book, for 4- to 8-year-olds, is written by Jewish educator Rabbi Kerry Olitzky and his son, Rabbi Jesse Olitzky. Jen Kostman’s cartoon-style illustrations are bright and colorful.
“The Eight Knights of Hanukkah.” Hark! In this playful tale for 3- to 8-year-olds, Lady Sadie challenges her eight young knights to save their kingdom’s Hanukkah celebration from a scary dragon. She sends them out trotting on horseback to make things right with kind deeds and bravery. Kids will giggle when Sir Isabella and Sir Rugelach discover that behind the dragon’s plume of smoke is a young creature who joins them in the grand Hanukkah celebration. Writer Leslie Kimmelman and illustrator Galia Bernstein have created a lively, off-beat story of diverse characters that tickles the funny bone.
“There Was a Young Rabbi: A Hanukkah Tale.” In this playful, rhyming story for 4- to 8-year-olds, Hanukkah meets “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.” On the first night of Hanukkah, a rabbi reads from the Torah and lights the menorah. Each
night, she adds something new — cooking applesauce, playing dreidel with her family and enjoying chocolate coins. Young kids will join the chorus in this rollicking readaloud by Suzanne Wolf.
“The Ninth Night of Hanukkah.” When Max and Rachel move into a new apartment, their special Hanukkah box is nowhere to be found. The inventive siblings craft their own menorah and knock on the door of a neighbor who comes to the rescue with birthday candles. For eight nights, a multicultural array of neighbors helps the kids improvise — a hula hoop transforms into a perfect dreidel, for instance. As the holiday ends, Max and
Rachel invite their new friends to a Hanukkah celebration. Aimed at 3- to 8-year-olds, the book benefits from writer Erica S. Perl’s humor and Israeli Shahar Kober’s illustrations.
“Honey on the Page: A Treasury of Yiddish Children’s Literature.” This 352-page anthology doesn’t incorporate a Hanukkah theme, but it will make a good holiday gift for children 10 and up. Miriam Udel, a scholar of German and Jewish studies at Emory University, has put together a treasure that introduces readers to a wealth of littleknown Jewish children’s stories by early 20th-century Yiddish writers. Udel, who was ordained in 2019 at Yeshivat Maharat in a program that brings women into the Orthodox rabbinate, will participate in a free Zoom talk about the book at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 presented by S.F.-based Jewish LearningWorks. For details, visit tinyurl.com/j-cal-udel. n
“The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol” by Arthur A. Levine (40 pages, Candlewick Press) “Happy Llamakkah!” by Laura Gehl (24 pages, Abrams Appleseed) “Kayla and Kugel’s Happy Hanukkah” by Ann D. Koffsky (24 pages, Apples & Honey Press) “The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story” by Rabbi Kerry Olitzky and Rabbi Jesse Olitzky (32 pages, Kalaniot Books) “The Eight Knights of Hanukkah” by Leslie Kimmelman (48 pages, Holiday House) “There Was a Young Rabbi: A Hanukkah Tale” by Suzanne Wolf (24 pages, Kar-Ben) “The Ninth Night of Hanukkah” by Erica S. Perl (40 pages, Sterling Children’s Books) “Honey on the Page: A Treasury of Yiddish Children’s Literature,” edited and translated by Miriam Udel (352 pages, New York University Press)
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