For Jewish publishers, fall brings a wave of titles highlighting holidays from somber to joyful. There are four holidays this year in October alone, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, ten days later. Then comes the harvest holiday of Sukkot followed by Simchat Torah, celebrating annual cycle of reading the entire scroll over the course of the year.
In December, families delight in Hanukkah, often called the festival of lights, enjoying traditional foods and games and lighting an eight-branch candelabra, a menorah, that signifies a miracle: God rewarded Jew's devotion to their faith, allowing a tiny bit of oil to burn for eight days.
Here's a look at 2024's offerings from Jewish presses:
Apples and Honey Press, an imprint of Berman House
The Baddest Wolf of All? (out now, ages 6-8) by David Sherrin, illustrated by Martin Morón. The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are devoted to self-reflection and the wolf wonders about whether he really is so evil.
Lucky Penny (out now, ages 7-9) by Aimee Lucido, illustrated by Jon Davis. A little Jewish girl looks to her good luck charms at Rosh Hashanah when everyone wants a fresh start.
Avital the Pirate (out now, ages 4-6) by Pamela Moritz, Illustrated by Damien Jones. A child joins a pirate crew but misses her family at Rosh Hashanah and sails home in time for the holidays.
Challah, Challah for You and Me (out now, ages 2-3) by Barbara Bietz and June Sobel, illustrated by Ruth Waters. A rhyming book with animals enjoying the rich traditional braided bread served at Rosh Hashanah and Sabbath meals.
The Day I Became a Potato Pancake (Oct.,ages 7-9) by Arie Kaplan, illustrated by Beilin Xu. A Hanukkah-themed sci-fi adventure when a boy playing in a science lab is transformed into a latke.
Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah (Nov., ages 3-6) by Karne Rostoker-Gruber, illustrated by Carles Arbat. A child learns a lesson about hospitality when a bear joins in his family's Hanukkah party.
Intergalactic Afikoman
Oy, Santa, or There's a Latke to Learn about Hanukkah (Oct., ages 4-9) by Joyce Schriebman, illustrated by Gila von Meissner. A Jewish child and Santa learn to respect and appreciate their distinct holidays.
Kalaniot Books
A Turkish Rosh Hashanah by (out now, ages 5-9) by Etan Basseri, illustrated by Zeynep Özatalay. Two children whose families are in the Sephardic (Spanish and North African tradition) shop for ingredients for a Rosh Hashanah celebration.
Uri and the King of Darkness: A Hanukkah Story (Oct. ages 4-9) by Nati Bait , illustrations by Carmel Ben Ami. Two children show courage and spirit fighting an evil force to bring home the light of Hanukkah.
Kar-Ben
An Etrog from Across the Sea (out now, ages 4-10) by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, iIllustrations by Stacey Dressen McQueen. A New York family eagerly awaits their father to be home from Europe with the special citrus fruit, the etrog, that stars in the celebration of Sukkot.'
Charley and Seymour's Hanukkah Miracle (Oct. ages 4-8) by Melody Howard Ritt and Nia Gould. Two cute critters gather all kinds of goodies for a Hanukkah party but suddenly discover they're missing candles for the menorah.
Hanukkah Hippity-Hop (Oct., ages 1-4) by Barbara Kimmel, Illustrated by Ana Zurita. This is a dance party book inviting to stomp like Hanukkah's legendary heroes, the Maccabees, and shake like jelly in a doughnut, the traditional holiday dessert.
Menucha
One Batch of Brownie Bars (out now) by C.B. Lieber, illustrated by Faigy Levy, shows a family enjoying traditional treats every month of the Jewish calendar year.
