Sharing blessings, friendship and welcoming guests are among the themes that illuminate a new crop of Hanukkah books for children. The eight-day Festival of Lights begins this year with the first candlelighting on the evening of Dec. 6.
Some acclaimed children’s writers and illustrators serve up a sparkling array of lively and inspiring stories that will take readers from the streets of New York City to an Israeli moshav and even into the kitchen to cook up some Hanukkah fun.
For the youngest set, there’s “Hannukah is Coming.”
Tracy Newman’s delightful rhyming story follows a family as it celebrates the holiday — lighting the menorah, frying potato latkes, trading gifts and playing dreidel. The colorfully illustrated board book is a perfect read-aloud for very young children, each page ending with the easy-to-repeat refrain, “Hanukkah is coming.”
“Oskar and the Eight Blessings” transports young readers back in time to the sights and sounds of 1938 New York City. The fictional tale, written by husband and wife Richard and Tanya Simon, takes place on the seventh night of Hanukkah, which in 1938 falls on Christmas Eve.
Oskar, a young Jewish refugee, arrives on his own by ship, sent on the journey from Germany by his parents following the frightening events of Kristallnacht. Oskar has only the photograph and address of his Aunt Esther, who lives uptown.
As he makes his way up the length of the island to find her, Oskar is mesmerized by the city’s wintry glow. He crosses paths with strangers who share blessings — a piece of bread, a Superman comic book, a whistle from Count Basie and a kind encounter with Eleanor Roosevelt.
The book’s simple prose — geared for ages 4 to 8 — is brilliantly matched with Mark Siegel’s captivating illustrations, which bathe the realistic cityscape in a dreamlike haze.
The tale is based on family stories that Richard Simon’s grandfather told him as a child; the historical references are based on actual events from 1938 New York.
“A bit of a feminist tale” is how author David A. Adler — best known for his popular Cam Jansen series — describes “Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles,” which features Sara, an inquisitive, fun-loving girl with a heart of gold. Looking out the window of her apartment, she notices a man juggling and eating a bruised apple set aside by the owner of Sol’s Market. As she comes to understand that the man is hungry, Sara prepares small bits of food to leave for him at Sol’s.
Sara later spots the man at her synagogue, and the rabbi introduces her family to Mr. Berger, a former circus performer. Sara’s family invites him to a Hanukkah dinner, leading to a budding friendship.
Sara lives with her mom and grandmother, with no father. “It was an intentional choice,” Adler said of this nontraditional Jewish family.
Farmer Kobi has a house full of barnyard friends, but they wish he had a human friend, too. “Farmer Kobi’s Hanukkah Match
” — a lighthearted, hilarious story —opens on the second night of Hanukkah at a moshav, a collective farm in Israel. Farmer Kobi has invited his new friend Polly for a Hanukkah feast, but Polly is surprised when she’s greeted by a slew of animals who sing Hanukkah songs and play dreidel while Farmer Kobi checks on dinner.
This isn’t Polly’s idea of fun. After she leaves, an unexpected visitor knocks on the door looking for help with a flat tire. The new guest, Ruthie, feels right at home — turns out she has her own family of farmyard friends waiting in her truck.
There are fun nods to Israeli and Jewish traditions, all explained in a glossary at the end. And CB Decker’s cartoon-like illustrations bring the story to life with plenty of merry mayhem. The laughs come courtesy of co-authors Karen Rostoker-Gruber — a writer, humorist and ventriloquist — and Rabbi Ron Isaacs, the guitar-strumming rabbi emeritus of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and a best-selling author of more than 100 books.
And finally, Sammy Spider is back. In the 15th book of this popular series, the friendly arthropod joins Josh and the Shapiro family in the kitchen just in time for Hanukkah.
“Sammy Spider’s First Taste of Hanukkah” includes 18 easy-to-follow recipes for Hanukkah meals and treats including “Maccabee Munch,” applesauce and “Chocolate Fun-due.” There’s also a chapter with Hanukkah craft projects.
“Hanukkah is Coming!” by Tracy Newman (Kar-Ben Publishing, 32 pages)
“Oskar and the Eight Blessings” by Richard and Tanya Simon (Roaring Book Press, 40 pages)
“Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles” by David A. Adler (Apples and Honey Press, 32 pages)
“Farmer Kobi’s Hanukkah Match” by Rabbi Ron Isaacs and Karen Rostoker-Gruber 
(Apples and Honey Press, 32 pages)
“Sammy Spider’s First Taste of Hanukkah” by Sylvia A. Rouss and Genene Levy Turndorf
 (Kar-Ben Publishing, 32 pages)