One of our favorite family activities is reading! The other day, as I sat sifting through the chaos that is my child's library, I noticed that we have a plethora of books about reindeer, snowmen, and Santa and a distinct lack of books about Hanukkah. What to do? What to do! Oh dear, time to make a trip to the bookstore. Gosh, twist my arm, what a sacrifice...NOT! We love bookstores almost as much as we love books. So off we went to one of our favorite places of all time. Alas, upon entering the store, I realized the source of our issue. We are impulse buyers. We buy what we see and all we could see was a sea of books that we already have about reindeer, snowmen, and Santa. Where were the books about Hanukkah? The lovely clerk, helpful as always, was quick to point out that she could order something for us if I could give her a few titles. But what titles did I want to order? Unsure of what would be best, I decided to ask an expert. So off I went to email my child's preschool teacher. Miss Barrie is amazing. Within a day, we had our title suggestions! With this list in hand, we headed back to the bookstore to place our order. Yes, yes, I know that this is the information age and everything is available online, but why sit in front of the computer when you have a chance to get out and play at a train table...er...I mean...browse at a bookstore? Play, browse, and order we did and now, a week later, we are curled up on the couch looking over our new additions for the library. Eight additions to the library, to be exact, the perfect number for this particular holiday. Not that we'll read one per night. We're impulse readers just like we're impulse buyers. If we see it, we have to read it.

Want to know what we're reading? Here is Miss Barrie's list of favorite books for preschoolers who want to learn about Hanukkah...

Biscuit's Hanukkah
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
illustrated by Pat Schories and Mary O'Keefe
published by HarperCollins
Come along with Biscuit as he makes a beautiful menorah to celebrate Hanukkah. It's a great time for stories, songs, food and friends!
Ages 2-6



Eight Wild Nights: A Family Hanukkah Tale
by Brian P. Cleary
illustrated by David Udovic
published by Kar-Ben
With humor and rhyme, a Jewish family celebrates and survives the eight days of Hanukkah. Every Family will relate to this roller coaster of joys and adventures as an assortment of relatives and friends descend on the household.
Ages 5-10

Hanukkah: A Counting Book in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish
by Emily Sper
published by Scholastic
Readers will learn about Hanukkah, as well as how to count all 8 nights in Hebrew and Yiddish! Pronunciation guides help kids say the words, and die-cuts reveal the candles as they are lit each night. Simple graphics and design elements enrich this holiday offering.
Ages 0+



Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah
by Susan L. Roth
published by Penguin Group
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah,
come light the menorah . . .
Come and join this lovable family of mice at their Hanukkah party! Everyone will enjoy the festival of lights as they sing, dance the hora, play with dreidels, and eat latkes. And the musical score at the end of the book will help youngsters sing the festive song! Susan L. Roth's colorful collages will entice children—young and old—to celebrate this luminous holiday with their entire family.
Ages 3+

Light the Menorah
by Jannie Ho
published by Penguin Group
Light the menorah and celebrate eight days of fun with this interactive book!

It's time to celebrate Hanukkah! From learning the story of the Macabees to making potato latkes and playing dreidel, kids will love reading along with this fun book. A pull-tab on each page allows children to "light" the candles of the menorah.
Ages 3-5

Light the Lights: A Story About Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas
by Margaret Moorman
published by Scholastic
Emma's parents come from different cultural backgrounds, so every year they celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. During Hanukkah, the family enjoys playing dreidel games, making crispy latkes to eat, and lighting the candles of a menorah each night of the holiday. Then Christmas comes. With her parents and friends, Emma has a joy-filled time making sugar cookies, singing Christmas carols, and lighting the lights on the beautiful tree.
Ages 4+

Lots of Latkes
by Sandy Lanton
illustrated by Vicki Jo Redenbaugh
published by Kar-Ben
When mice eat the sugar, the apples have rotted, and the fish aren't biting, what can Rivka Leah's friends bring to her Hanukkah celebration?
Ages 3-8



Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah
by Linda Glaser
illustrated by Nancy Cote
published by Albert Whitman & Company
Though it's the first night of Hanukkah, Rachel's family won't really be celebrating until next week. But Rachel wants to celebrate now, so she comes up wtih a good idea: while her parents do errands, she'll visit her neighbor, Mrs. Greenberg, and they can make latkes together. The two head into Mrs. Greenberg's shiny, tidy kitchen and begin grating the potatoes. But Rachel's gratings slide off the table and onto the floor. Before long, Rachel has dropped an egg, spilled the flour, and dribbled the oil. Mrs. Greenberg is exhausted, Rachel's mom and dad are horrified, and Rachel is afraid she's ruined a friendship by making this terrible mess. She is relieved and delighted to find that Mrs. Greenberg thinks it's a wonderful mess--her house hasn't felt so lived-in in years!
Ages 6-8

-- Submitted by Jenny (jks). Originally posted to her blog, Penguins Happen.