Book picks similar to
Hanukkah Moon by Deborah da Costa


picture-books
childrens
hanukkah
holidays

The Passover Guest


Susan Kusel - 2021
    Her father has lost his job, and her family barely has enough food most days, let alone for a Passover Seder. They don't even have any wine to leave out for the prophet Elijah's ceremonial cup.With no feast to rush home to, Muriel wanders by the Lincoln Memorial, where she encounters a mysterious magician in whose hands juggled eggs become lit candles. After she makes a kind gesture, he encourages her to run home for her Seder, and when she does, she encounters a holiday miracle, a bountiful feast of brisket, soup, and matzah.But who was this mysterious benefactor? When Muriel sees Elijah's ceremonial cup is empty, she has a good idea.This fresh retelling of the classic I.L. Peretz story, best known through Uri Shulevitz's 1973 adaptation The Magician, has been illustrated by graphic novelist Sean Rubin, who based his art on photographs of D.C. in the 1930s. An author note with information about the holiday is included.

Me & Mama


Cozbi A. Cabrera - 2020
    In the tradition of Someday, this celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.

Ohana Means Family


Ilima Loomis - 2020
    An American Library Association Notable Children's BookThis is the land that's never been sold, where work the hands, so wise and old, that reach through the water, clear and cold, into the mud to pick the taro to make the poi for our ohana's luau.Acclaimed illustrator and animator Kenard Pak's light-filled, dramatic illustrations pair exquisitely with Ilima Loomis' text to celebrate Hawaiian land and culture.The backmatter includes a glossary of Hawaiian terms used, as well as an author's note.A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the YearA New York Public Library Best Book of the YearA Bank Street Best Childrens Book of the Year!A Booklist Editor's Choice

The Big Bed


Bunmi Laditan - 2018
    A twist on the classic parental struggle of not letting kids sleep in their bed.

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville


Pat Zietlow Miller - 2016
    Alta can only think about one thing: Wilma Rudolph, three-time Olympic gold medalist. She'll be riding on a float tomorrow. See, Alta is the quickest kid in Clarksville, Tennessee, just like Wilma once was. It doesn't matter that Alta's shoes have holes because Wilma came from hard times, too. But what happens when a new girl with shiny new shoes comes along and challenges Alta to a race? Will she still be the quickest kid? The Quickest Kid in Clarksville is a timeless story of dreams, determination, and the power of friendship.

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina


Monica Brown - 2011
    At least, that's what everyone tells me." Marisol McDonald has flaming red hair and nut-brown skin. Polka dots and stripes are her favorite combination. She prefers peanut butter and jelly burritos in her lunch box. And don't even think of asking her to choose one or the other activity at recess--she'll just be a soccer playing pirate princess, thank you very much. To Marisol McDonald, these seemingly mismatched things make perfect sense together. Unfortunately, they don't always make sense to everyone else. Other people wrinkle their nose in confusion at Marisol--can't she just be one or the other? Try as she might, in a world where everyone tries to put this biracial, Peruvian-Scottish-American girl into a box, Marisol McDonald doesn't match. And that's just fine with her. A mestiza Peruvian American of European, Jewish, and Amerindian heritage, renowned author Monica Brown wrote this lively story to bring her own experience of being mismatched to life. Her buoyant prose is perfectly matched by Sara Palacios' engaging acrylic illustrations.

Home Alone: The Classic Illustrated Storybook


Jason Rekulak - 2015
    Now, illustrator Kim Smith has reimagined the story as a classic Christmas fable—complete with bumbling burglars, brilliant booby-traps, and a little boy named Kevin who’s forced to fend for himself. Through a series of comic adventures, Kevin learns lessons about responsibility and the importance of family. With an amusing read-aloud story and enchanting, immersive illustrations, this charming adaptation can be enjoyed year after year alongside The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and other Christmas storybook classics.

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving: The True Meaning of Christmas


Jan Berenstain - 2010
    Join Brother and Sister Bear at the Christmas Eve pageant as they witness the very first Christmas, and make an important discovery about giving and receiving, a valuable lesson at Christmas and year around.  The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving—part of the popular series Living Lights—is perfect for: Early readers ages 4-8 Reading out loud at home or in a classroom Sparking conversations about the joy of giving to others  Developing an attitude of gratitude  The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving: Features the hand-drawn artwork of the Berenstain family Continues in the much-loved footsteps of Stan and Jan Berenstain Is part of one of the bestselling children’s book series ever created, with more than 250 unique books published and nearly 300 million books sold to date    Look for additional inspirational children’s picture books in the Berenstain Bears Living Lights™ series.

A Pirate's Night Before Christmas


Philip Yates - 2008
    Moore classic. On this ship of mischievous brigands—who have visions of treasure chests, not sugarplums, dancing in their heads—you wouldn’t expect a visit from nice St. Nick. Instead, here comes Sir Peggedy, with his peg leg and hook arm, cracking his whip and driving eight giant seahorses: Salty, Scurvy, Sinbad, Mollie, Cutthroat, Cross-Eyes, Roger, and Jolly. Philip Yates’ rollicking rhymes and Sebastià Serra’s sprightly, fun-filled pictures—featuring whimsically multicolored seahorses, stockings hung on the ship’s bowsprit with tar, child-friendly pirates, and a complete treasure map—turn this Christmas perennial into a jubilant celebration!

Home Is a Window


Stephanie Ledyard - 2019
    At home, everything always feels the same: comfortable and safe.But sometimes things change, and a home must be left behind.Follow a family as they move out of their beloved, familiar house and learn that they can bring everything they love about their old home to the new one, because they still have each other. This heartfelt picture book by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard is richly illustrated by former Pixar animator Chris Sasaki.

Penny and Her Song


Kevin Henkes - 2012
    But the babies are sleeping, and Mama and Papa are worried that Penny will wake them up. Oh, but it is a good song, a really wonderful song . . . and Penny wants more than anything to sing it.What do you think will happen?

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship


Markette Sheppard - 2020
    A stormy afternoon and an order from Mom to stay inside are no match for this little dreamer, who uses everyday household items--a rocking chair, a cardboard box, an old dishrag, and his super-duper imagination--to whip up an indoor space adventure he won't soon forget. A spectacular launch into outer space ultimately lands him on a new planet called X-Y-Z, also known as B-E-D, in a faraway galaxy known as the Land of ZZZZZZs.This rhythmic read-aloud is, on the surface, all about the soaring ingenuity of a child who refuses to let boredom outdo his inventiveness: he builds a rocket ship, designs his space gear, waves his flag, and uses his magical mind to take flight. Dig deeper and see a celebration of a little boy's imagination and all the ways he uses it to transform the mundane into the extraordinary and to dream out loud.My Rainy Day Rocket Ship is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the imaginations of black boys who use their beautiful minds to boldly go where not even the sky is a limit.

Auntie Claus


Elise Primavera - 1999
    She lives in penthouse 25C at the Bing Cherry Hotel and is "so "curioso! After all, Auntie Claus serves Christmas cookies all year long and her tree is always the best-decorated in the city. And then there's her annual "business trip," right around the holidays. This year Sophie is determined to get to the bottom of Auntie Claus's mysterious ways. Put on your mittens and bundle up for an adventure beyond your wildest dreams. "Ho, ho, ho!"

A Thousand White Butterflies


Jessica Betancourt-Perez - 2021
    She misses Papa, who is still in South America. It's her first day of school, her make-new-friends day, but when classes are canceled because of too much snow, Isabella misses warm, green, Colombia more than ever. Then Isabella meets Katie and finds out that making friends in the cold is easier than she thought!

People


Peter Spier - 1979
    Detailed facts and figures as well as a focus on the issue of diversity make this a great book for reference and a basis for discussion, both at home and in the classroom.