There is a wonderful tradition on Chanukah. While the candles are burning, no work should be done. No tidying up, no cooking, no laundry. We stop as a family and enjoy the moment, with the Chanukiot in the background.
This year, while the candles are burning, you and your family can be reading.
Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap by Deborah Bodin Cohen
The third book in the Engineer Ari series, finds Engineer Ari on his way home to celebrate Hanukkah. Coming close to hitting a camel sitting on the tracks, Ari befriends the camel’s Bedouin owner and heads to his tent for a Hannukah celebration. A little bit holiday, a little bit Israel, Engineer Ari’s stories offer up a lot in the way of Jewish education. With fabulous illustrations and a compelling story, Engineer Ari is a great addition to your Jewish library.
Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles by Tami Lehman-Wilzig
It isn’t often that a children’s book is bold enough to incorporate a special needs child into the story. In this Hanukkah story, Jacob is nervous that his autistic brother, Nathan, may blow out the Hanukkah candles and embarrass him. Written with love and respect, this story brings a wonderful opportunity to bring a teaching moment into your home.
Just in time for Chanukah, a new Jewish-values book has been released. It’s Too Crowded in Here! by Vicki L. Weber retells Jewish folktales in a way that is both engaging and accessible for children. The eight stories (in my mind, one for each night of Chanukah) take us back to different times and places throughout Jewish history. We meet kings and rabbis, noblemen and peasants, each learning or teaching a valuable lesson.
While the illustrations throughout the book are wonderful, what distinguishes this book from myriad other Jewish books is the resource page at the end of each story. The page takes the lesson taught in the story and expands on it – showing us Jewish sources, asking guided value questions, even offering a few creative ideas for your family. The stories stand well on their own: the resource page simply offers up additional teachable moments.
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