In November PJ Library subscribers got a special Hanukkah book the PJ Library team selected especially for the 100th anniversary of Jewish Book Month. Families with younger subscribers received Hanukkah with Friends by Chris Barash while older readers found Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg in their envelopes.
So many families have shared with us on social media about how much fun they’re having reading (and re-reading) their new books. You can also use each story to inspire extra learning and conversation at home – just follow along:
Read
As you read, pause and look at the pages:
- Can you find the page that shows a picture of both Judah Mega-bee and Judah Maccabee?
- What’s similar and different about these two heroes?
- What makes the members of the Latke family seem more like people than potato pancakes?
- Do you have a favorite Latke family member?
- Compare Grandpa’s and Applesauce’s Hanukkah stories. What miracles take place in the stories? Which story comes closest to the real Hanukkah story?
Discuss
There are no bees in the Hanukkah (or Chanukah) story! But while Grandpa’s creative take on the Maccabees—featuring mega-bees, alien potatoes, and a big wooden dreidel—may not be accurate, it sure is entertaining. Telling stories has always been a major part of Jewish tradition, and expanding on the details is nothing new. The midrash, a collection of rabbinic stories and commentary, does just that, adding context and flavor to biblical passages. Of course, maybe not quite as much as in Grandpa’s story . . . but then, latkes are meant to be flavorful!
- Do you know anyone like Grandpa who exaggerates or mixes stories up?
- Can you retell a well-known story and try mixing up some of the details?
Do
A common Hanukkah practice is to refrain from work while the Hanukkah candles are burning (for example, no doing dishes or picking up toys). What could you and your family do while watching the lights of your menorah? Here are some ideas to try:
- Have a contest to predict which candle will burn the longest.
- Play dreidel or a variation on the dreidel game, such as seeing who can spin the dreidel the longest or get the most gimels in a row.
- Read the same number of books as the number of candles burning on the menorah, or sing (or listen to) the same number of Hanukkah songs.
- Make up your own creative version of the Hanukkah story.
More
More Than Gifts: Cultivating an Attitude of Thankfulness During Hanukkah
Printables To Help Celebrate Hanukkah at Home
What Makes the World Feel Smaller? Our Shared Hanukkah Traditions
December 2, 2025