Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah
Jewish families around the world each have their own special customs to  celebrate Hanukkah. The family featured here celebrates each of the eight days  of the holiday with an important ritual. On the first night they light the first  candle of their silver menorah, sing songs, and take turns reading about Judah  Maccabee and his friends, who refused to give up their faith two thousand years  ago. On the second night they go to Grandma and Grandpa's and light two candles,  then make delicious latkes (potato pancakes). On the third night they light  three candles and gather together clothing and toys they don't need anymore to  give away to people who aren't as lucky as they are. As each of the eight days  goes by, the family builds their own set of traditions that teach them about  Hanukkah and togetherness.Written from a child's perspective, and illustrated with friendly pictures by  DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan, Michael J. Rosen's story of one family's festivities shows  young readers that acceptance and love are tremendously important elements of  Hanukkah. While celebrating the seventh night with close Christian friends, the  child narrator says "Did I tell you that our Hanukkah is also about people of  different religions living alongside one another?" Warm, cozy, and instructive  in the gentlest way, this book is a treasure to be shared. (Ages 6 to 10)--Emilie Coulter