Hanukkah is a holiday celebrated in December for 8 days. The start date might change which begins each year on the 25th day of the Jewish month. This day is also spelled Chanukah. For centuries, Jewish people have had to fight for their religious freedom. Hanukkah is such a special time because they can reflect and remember the story of the Maccabees. These warriors stood up for their religion. 

Today families all across the world celebrate this holiday with food cooked with oil, light the Menorah, play games, gather, and enjoy the blessings they have. These children’s books below are a window into this celebration.

Light the Menorah!, A Hanukkah Handbook by Jacqueline Jules

A nonfiction picture book explaining what occurs on each night and what happened historically on each night of Hanukkah. This story provides a holistic explanation on why and how Jewish members celebrate during this time. Book also has recipes and crafts to celebrate this holiday. 

Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas by Pamela Ehrenberg

A family celebrates Hanukkah with dosas, mango lassi, and the Menorah. A boy’s younger sister is a climber. While the family prepares for their celebration, his little sister climbs and climbs. To get his sister’s attention, he signs a song, and she climbs down. On the day of Hanukkah, the boy and his family were locked out of their home. He was able to sing a song to his sister and she climbed into the small opened window to let them in, saving Hanukkah. 

A Hanukkah with Mazel, by Joel Edward Stein

Misha is a poor artist. One day a cat was found in his barn. Misha cared for the cat and named her Mazel. Misha did not have enough candles to light up for Hanukkah so he painted the menorah and candle lights each night of Hanukkah. Mazel became his good friend where they ate Latkes and Mazel drank milk. Misha, the artist, enjoys his Hanukkah with his new friend Mazel.

Little Red Ruthie, A Hanukkah Tale, by Gloria Koster

This treasured story of Little Red Riding Hood is written to celebrate Hanukkah. Ruthie had to take a stroll to her grandmother’s house to make Latkes for Hanukkah. On her walk, a wolf threatened to eat her, but she tricked the wolf that he could eat her after she was stuffed 8 days later after her Hanukkah meals. The wolf ended up pretending to be Ruthie’s grandmother, just like the original story. However at the end, Ruthie tricked the wolf and he was too stuffed from her latkes to eat her. 

Meet the Latkes, by Alan Silberberg

Latkes are potatoes that are grated down and fried that families eat during the Hanukkah celebration. A fictitious family of Latkes discuss the origins of Hanukkah. A grandfather tells his family why it is important to decorate the house, why he says Chanukah over Hanukkah, and most importantly why Hanukkah is celebrated. It is celebrated to commemorate the Maccabees who fought for religious freedom from a dubious king. The menorah is burned for 8 days, because the Jews who won against the king witnessed their oil lamp burning for 8 days when they did not have enough oil for 8 days. This was considered a miracle and that is how Hanukkah began. 

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah, by Emily Jenkins

A story inspired from other books by Sydney Taylor. 

It is 1912 in New York’s Lower East Side. Gertie’s four sisters and mother prepare the meal for Hanukkah. Gertie is four and she wants to help in the kitchen. However, when everyone is stirring, grating, whipping, and mixing, Gertie watches with delight. Gertie tries so hard to help, but Mama takes her out of the kitchen because she knows Gertie cannot help. Even though Gertie is sad, she listens to her sisters preparing. When Papa gets home he surprises her and lets Gertie light the first candle on the menorah. 

The Missing Letters, A Dreidel Story by Renee Londner

Dreidels are a cultural element to the celebration of Hanukkah. Dreidel letters are personified. These letters live in a dreidel makers shop. When they are made they think that Nobody likes them because the dreidel does not stop on them. So the next day the dreidel maker discovers the letters on each dreidel are missing. To comfort his helper, he discusses why the dreidel is so significant during Hanukkah. Once the missing letters discovered their importance, they changed their minds and reappear on the dreidels. 

Hanukkah, by Rachel Grack

A nonfiction text describing how Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday. Story explains the significance of lighting the menorah, whey eating foods made with oil is significant, and more. You can get a glimpse into this wonderful celebration. 

The deaf community has a rich culture. However, their language and experiences are still not fully understood. They have in the past have been called Dummy, Dumb, Disabled, and so much more. Throughout the years, however, thousands of deaf activists have pushed for equal rights. They brought Closed-Captioning in television & media, interpreters for national conversations, brought data that American Sign Language (ASL) is a foreign language due its word structure, visual order, syntax, and meanings. Today it has been distinguished that there is even Black ASL

To celebrate the deaf community, we are highlighting books about deaf culture. Also, each year, December 3-December 10th, is celebrated as Clerc-Gallaudet Week. This week is to remember the partnership that Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet formed to establish a leading ASL school and university.

Below are fictional books about children’s and teens living with or living as a deaf individual. 

YOUNG READERS

Secret Signs Along the Underground Railroad, by Anita Riggio

A mother and her deaf son hide slaves on their farm. When a slave catcher is suspicious, he threatens them. Quickly, the deaf son plans to outwit the slave catcher so he can give a message to a woman in an Indigo shawl.

The William Hoy Story, by Nancy Churnin

William Hoy was a deaf baseball player who played for Chicago White Stockings (Chicago White Sox) from 1890-1901. Because William Hoy was deaf his family and society determined his future. However, Hoy was determined to play ball. At first, other players and officials discriminated against him. Later on, Hoy gave the Umpire signs so he knew when to bat or if there was a strike. Remarkably signs in baseball are currently used. With the noise of the players and audience it is easier to sign than speak. We can thank William Hoy for his determination, grit, and passion for baseball.

Moses Sees A Play, by Issac Millman

1 out of the 4 Moses themed books is about a deaf boy named Moses. In this story, Moses befriends a boy named Manuel. Moses teaches Manuel signs and learns how deaf actors perform.

 The Deaf Musicians, by Pete Seeger and Paul Dubois Jacobs

A musician loses his hearing and has to find another way to celebrate his musical gifts. He befriends other deaf musician during his ASL studies. Lee and his new deaf band members performed for audiences in the subway.

Helen’s Big World, The Life of Helen Keller, by Doreen Rappaport

Helen Keller had a mind that amazed the world. She was born hearing, but due to an illness lost her hearing & sight as a baby. This story shares her story and how her life-long teacher, Annie taught her how to read and write. Annie showed Helen the beauties of this world and the injustices.

The Sound of Silence, Growing up Hearing With Deaf Parents, by Myron Uhlberg

An intermediary is a person who translates for the other. Myron describes his experiences of being an intermediary for his deaf parents.

Dad Jackie, and Me, by Myron Uhlberg

It is the summer of 1947 where Jackie Robinson is playing with an all-white professional baseball league. Uhlberg’s father is ecstatic because his father experienced discrimination, oppression, and being underestimate his entire life just for being deaf. Uhlberg’s father saw Robinson as his hero. Though this story was fictitious, Uhlberg’s father was proud to see a Black man play with white players.

TEEN READERS

You Don’t Know Everything Jilly P, by Alex Gino

New big sister Jillian has a new baby sister. When her parents discover that their baby Emma is deaf, they are upset. The doctors take action on creating hearing aids and even recommending a Cochlear Implant. However, when Jillian pushes back and asks if they will be learning sign language, they dismiss it. Her parents want to give Emma the chance to live amongst Hearing individuals. Jillian pushes back on her parents wishes though. To cope, she befriends a deaf teen named Derek. Derek explains what she is doing right and wrong when it comes to deaf culture. Eventually Jilly discovers that she has much more to learn than doing to “save” Emma. Derek is a friend who gives knowledge raw that makes Jilly think and step back.  

El Deafo, by Cece Bell

An autobiographical graphic novel where Cece became Deaf at the age of 4 after becoming sick with Meningitis. In the 1970s deafness was still a growing research field. So Cece had to wear hearing aids accompanied by a box to hear sounds. At the start, she was taught to read lips and not sign language. When it was time for Kindergarten all of the children noticed her hearing box that she carried around her neck. She felt uncomfortable and alone many times. When she became more comfortable with her hearing aid, Bell named herself “El Deafo.” She also personified herself as “El Deafo” to visualize how to handle so called friends and classmates who treated her unfairly. By the time she reached Middle School Bell became a strong girl who was embracing her deafness. You can learn more about Bell’s story here.

Feathers, by Jacqueline Woodson

Novel set in 1971 where Frannie deals with race, living on the “other side” of the highway, faith, and her older brother Sean’s deafness. Frannie’s brother wants to connect with hearing people so he can be in a different world. Frannie also grapples with the new boy called “Jesus Boy.” He looks white and is the only “white” student in their school, but he affirms he is not white. Woodson tells a story of an adolescent girl who learns about the ways of the world.

Impossible Music, by Sean Williams

Simon is a teen who became deaf due to having a stroke. When he could hear, he relished music and was even thinking about studying music at the university. With his deafness, Simon pushes back. He does not want to learn sign language, dislikes his deaf education, and even wishes his hearing came back. The author goes back and forth when Simon recently became deaf and in the present tense on being deaf. Through it all, Simon is determined to make a sound, and he creates an experience that can be seen by deaf people and hearing.

 Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte

Mary lives in a deaf community where hearing and deaf people sign. Their island is connected to the Wampanoag people who live next to them. This book is in the time period where black people were considered the lowest class, then Irishmen, and then the English freedmen. What is important is that Mary’s community did not see deafness as a disability but as a way of culture and communication. The story shifts when a man named Andrew Noble visits her community. He researches why the community in Martha’s Vineyard thrives compared to others. 

Wonderstruck, A Novel in Words and Pictures by Brian Selznick

Rose is deaf living in the 1920s where deaf people were taught to lip read and not encouraged to sign. Ben lives in the 1970s. He is struck by lightning and ends up becoming deaf. In both of their discoveries, Rose and Ben run out of their communities to discover who they are. Ben’s story is told through text and Rose’s story is told through visuals. This story connects their stories at the end where each character discovers who they are.

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving, we can also celebrate Indigenous people who lived in America before America was colonized. With November being Native American’s People’s Month, we wanted to share books with you that celebrates their lives and culture.

Below is a list of books focusing on intergenerational and connections to the environment.

INTERGENERATIONAL 

1. When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith
A story with text and images that shows how different people, generations, and friends can live. “I feel loved when my Elders are kind to me.” Kindness is a word that many people can relearn and this story shares many experiences about kindness. 

2. When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson
A story about a grandmother telling her granddaughter on how colonization changed her young life. Her native tongue was not accepted, she could no longer wear beautiful clothes, and her hair was cut short. But through these challenges, her grandmother still reminded her granddaughter that she found ways to keep her culture alive. Grandmother shares that she shared her native tongue, elongated their hair with plants, and thought of home when they were alone.

3. Saltypie, by Tim Tingle
A Choctaw Journey from Darkenss into Light
A young boy learns about the triumphs and struggles of his grandmother because she was an Indian woman. She tells him that trouble means saltypie, and sometimes you have to shrug it off. 

4. First Laugh Welcome, Baby by Rose Ann Tahe and Nancy Bo Flood
A Navajo family antipicpates the moment when the baby has their first laugh. Grandpa and grandpa take the baby to the Navajo nation. Throughout the story, you learn about cultural movements of mother, sister-nadi, and family When the baby laughs for the first time, clans celebrate. 

5. Bowwow PowWow, by Brenda J. Child
A young girl named Windy Girl learns about her family’s reasons to dance from her Uncle’s stories. Her uncle’s story expresses the relationship between her people and dogs. This is also a bilingual text to learn the language of the Ojibwe people.

6. A Day with Yayah, by Nicola I. Campbell
Yaya, their grandmother taught her granddaughter Nikki about the brilliance of the Earth as well as the language. She teaches her grandchildren how cucumbers can treat rashes by explaining that every plant is different. 

 7. When the Shadbush Blooms, by Carla Messinger with Susan Katz
Images display how Lenni Lenape people lived in the past and how modern-day Lenni Lape people live. Family gardens, clans enjoy sporting events, and gathering sap. What is unique to the Leape people follow the seasons of the Sun, Moon, and natural world. This book intertwines the culture and the ideals of their lives. 

CELEBRATION OF PEOPLE

8. Go Show the World, by Wab Kinew
A story celebrating historical and modern-day Indigenous people. Even though this book is about different people such as: Jim Thorpe, Dr. Susan Laflesche Picotte, Te-Wau-Zee, and so many more shine so that they could “show the world what people who matter can do.” 

9. My Heroes My People, African Americans and Native Americans in the West, by Morgan Monceaux and Ruth Katch
Story written in 1999 brings about the interconnected relationship of oppressed people and how they overcame circumstance. Jim Beckwourth was a slave but later became involved in fur trading. John Horse was a mixed-blood Black and Seminole who fought against their removal. 

INTERCONNECTION TO ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

10. Awasis and the World-Famous Bannock
A fictional story about a little girl accepting gifts from animals so that she could make her world-famous bannock. An indigenous story about the Cree people. 

11. In My Anaana’s Amautik, by Nadia Sammurtok
Inuit writer shares how a small child feels when carried in their mother’s amautik (a-MOW-tick) pouch where a baby can be carried. 

12. In the Sky at Nighttime, by Laura Deal
An illustrative story about an Indigenous’ families experience on what they see in the night sky. They see the raven, Northern lights, snowfall, and the moon’s glow.