“Beautiful Yetta’s Hanukkah Kitten,” Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Jill Pinkwater (Macmillan, ages 3-8, $17.99)
A fun-filled collaboration between the Pinkwaters will enliven Hanukkah in this new tale of Yetta the Yiddish–speaking chicken. Yetta’s flown the coop from a Brooklyn poultry market and takes up with a cast of nest mates who jest in English and Yiddish. A lost kitten in need of care leads them to celebrate Hanukkah with a warmhearted grandmother. The large-format pages sparkle with brilliant and entertaining color illustrations.
“The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin,” Martha Seif Simpson, illustrated by Durga Yael Bernhard (Wisdom Tales, ages 5 and up, $16.95)
In this beautifully illustrated tale set in the old world, the keeper of a toy shop offers a mysterious dreidel to a young boy from a poor family. The boy’s humility causes a small miracle from the special dreidel.
An author’s note explains the holiday, dreidels and how to play the dreidel game.
“Here is the World: A Year of Jewish Holidays,” Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal (Abrams Books for Young Readers, ages 4-7, $18.95)
This lavish and brightly illustrated book lyrically rhymes its way through the Jewish holidays, including Hanukkah. End pages explain Jewish customs and holidays and include recipes, such as fried potato latkes for Hanukkah. A perfect Hanukkah gift for young readers.
“Latke, the Lucky Dog,” Ellen Fischer, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke (Kar-Ben, ages 2-7, $17.95 hardcover; $7.95 paperback)
A newly adopted dog from a shelter is a family Hanukkah gift that delights a young brother and sister. Latke, the dog, feels very lucky to be living with the loving family, but in innocence he gets into mischief and threatens to spoil the Hanukkah celebrations. The story, told from Latke’s perspective, will delight dog-loving kids.
“The Night Before Hanukkah,” Natasha Wing, illustrated by Amy Wummer (Grosset & Dunlap, ages 2-5, $3.99)
This rhyming Hanukkah story for young kids is Natasha Wing’s newest entry in her best-selling series of “night-before” books. Rhymes and illustrations are lively as the story follows a family celebrating Hanukkah.