JUDAISM Eight tales for Hanukkah

With Hanukkah starting at sundown Friday, here are some stories with which kids can learn and celebrate.
By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
There are plenty of candles in the world to light up the eight nights of Hanukkah, and there are always more than enough toys to choose from as gifts. But finding an ample supply of children's books to explain the holiday, its significance and different ways to celebrate can be a challenge.
This year, though, comes a small miracle for parents eager to separate the Jewish holiday that starts Friday from the more generic winter books that typically sit next to Santa's stash on booksellers' shelves: There is a variety of Hanukkah books for toddlers through grade-schoolers.
At first glance, "Runaway Dreidel!" (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, $17.95, ages 4-8) might seem familiar because it starts with " 'Twas the first night of Hanukkah," but in this house every creature is stirring, except there's no mouse.
Papa shines the silver menorah, Mama wraps gifts and Grandpa grates the potatoes for latkes (pancakes). The little boy who stars in the story is busy playing with his new dreidel -- until it rolls away.
Then the story takes a turn out of the house and into the streets, and a young reader can start humming "On Top of Spaghetti" because Leslea Newman's words and Kyrsten Brooker's pictures seem to fit perfectly with the children's song.
Historical views
"Alexandra's Scroll: The Story of the First Hanukkah" (Henry Holt, $18.95, ages 9-12) might be written by Miriam Chaikin but it is told from the point of view of a young girl in Jerusalem in 165 B.C.
Alexandra, who in Stephen Fieser's drawings has long, curly brown hair, writes down all her experiences as she is forced to leave her home in an early version of a teenager's diary. Her last entry, however, is celebratory as she rejoices during the first Hanukkah.
More recent history, the 20th century, is an important element in "One Candle" (HarperCollins, $15.99, ages 4-8) by Eve Bunting and illustrated by K. Wendy Popp.
Three generations gather around the table for Hanukkah, and they hear of Grandma and Great-Aunt Rose's time at Buchenwald during the Holocaust. But the story is more one of hope and happiness than despair because the women's spirit provided light on a very dim holiday.
Critters' celebrations
A family of mice introduce all the traditional trappings of a modern Hanukkah, including the chocolate coins and latkes, the fried potato pancakes that are a constant through all these books, in "The Hanukkah Mice" (Chronicle Books, $15.95, ages 2-6) by Ronne Randall and illustrated by Maggie Kneen.
The big excitement comes on the eighth night when the menorah shines bright.
In "Chanukah Bugs" (Little Simon, $10.95, ages 3-7), a pop-up book by David A. Carter, there is a gift for each night. In one box, Dizzy Dreidel Bug spins with all her might, and in another, Bubbie Bug prepares a feast. Some readers might find Sizzling Potato Latke Bugs resistible, but it's clear the Menorah Bugs are having one hot party!
Biscuit, a familiar canine character to young readers, tries to make off with the gelt (money) in "Happy Hanukkah, Biscuit!" (HarperFestival, $6.99, ages 2-6), but author Alyssa Satin Capucilli teaches that it is more rewarding to give a gift.
The inquisitive tawny-colored puppy also samples latkes, applesauce and grape juice, and helps -- sort of -- make beeswax candles to put in the menorah as he celebrates Hanukkah with his friend Sam, a shaggy, Shepherd-ish dog in Pat Schories' illustrations.
Scriptural tale
"The Menorah Story" (HarperTrophy, $5.99, ages 4-8) by Mark Podwal shows Moses' original golden menorah with seven lights to symbolize the six days of creation plus the Sabbath, the day of rest. After sharing the story of Judah Maccabee and the first Hanukkah, the book ends with pictures of the Hanukkah menorah, with its candle for each of the holiday's eight days and a "servant light" or shamash to kindle the flames.
And the whole family can learn the ABCs of Hanukkah in "D Is for Dreidel" (Price Stern Sloan, $4.99, ages 2-5) by Tanya Lee Stone and illustrated by Dawn Apperley.
The book, which is shaped like a dreidel, explains words that might be unfamiliar such as tzedakah (a good deed) and bracha (a blessing), but it also reminds young readers of other important things, including their own cheery neighborhoods and how special it is to receive a handmade gift.