our favorite hanukkah books

I LOVE pulling out the holiday books. It’s one of the first things I do to signify the start of the season, whatever it is, and it just feels so exciting. We have a collection of Hanukkah books that grows each year as I discover new ones. As a family that celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas, it’s important to me to make sure my boys understand the meaning of both holidays. I’m not gonna lie, it can be tough to compete with Santa and his merry elves and magical reindeer, but a few really sweet, interesting and funny Hanukkah books go a long way to engage my kids and help them enjoy the story of Hanukkah just as much.

SO HERE’S a collection of books to celebrate The Festival of Lights with kids of any age. Some explain the significance or traditions of the holiday and others are just fun stories. We have many of these books and some are on our wishlist. If you have favorites, please do share, we’re always looking to add to our collection. And Happy Hanukkah, lovelies. xo

Hanukkah Books

+ Shelf the Hanukkah Elf is our VERY favorite Hanukkah book. It explains and celebrates the differences between Christmas and Hanukkah and honors them both beautifully. It’s super cute and the illustrations are really whimsical and fun. +

+ Simon and the Bear is a really enchanting story about Simon’s journey to America and 8 Hanukkah miracles that help him along the way. The illustrations are beautiful. +

+ D is for Dreidel: A Hanukkah Alphabet is a holiday-inspired A-Z board book with bright happy pictures for each letter. +

+ Latke, the Lucky Dog is a story about a dog rescued on the first night of Hanukkah who accidentally manages to mess up just about all of the family’s holiday traditions. But of course they love him anyway. +

+ Oskar and the Eight Blessings is a really powerful and heartfelt story about the kindness of strangers. +

+ Where is Baby’s Dreidel? is a darling little lift-the-flap board book about baby trying to spin the dreidel. It’s super cute for little littles. +

+ You’re My Little Latke is just a super duper adorable rhyming board book celebrating Hanukkah. +

+ Dinosaur on Hanukkah is a super funny book about a dinosaur trying to participate in the Hanukkah festivities. +

+ The Eight Knights of Hanukkah is a great book. It’s a sweet and funny story about kindness and bravery and it teaches some Hanukkah traditions along the way. I love that it’s inclusive, too. +

+ The Hanukkah Mice is a story about a sweet Hanukkah miracle for a family of mice who live quietly in Rachel’s room. +

+ Hanukkah the Festival of Lights is perfect for littles. It explains how and why Hanukkah is celebrated in a simple and easy to understand way. +

+ A fun twist on the classic Goodnight Moon story, Goodnight Bubbala features a super lively family with a very different idea about their bedtime routine. You can have your own fuzzy bunny to go along with the book, too. +

+ Maccabee! The Story of Hanukkah is an engaging and energetic version of the Hanukkah story in full rhyme and the illustrations are bright and detailed. +

+ Is It Hanukkah Yet? highlights all the ways we know that Hanukkah is coming, both seasonal and traditional. I like the sweet illustrations. +

+ How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Hanukkah? is a super cute + funny Hanukkah version of the beloved ‘How Do Dinosaurs…’ books by Jane Yolen. We love it. +

+ Ok, Five Little Gefiltes is totally not a Hanukkah book, but it’s super funny, especially if you have a little yiddish in your life or want to learn some basics. +

+ Hanukkah Bear is a tender and silly story about a case of mistaken identity because Bubba Brayna can’t see very well and Bear can only growl. +

+ Little Red Ruthie: A Hanukkah Tale is a fun twist on the classic story that teaches some Hanukkah traditions along the way. The illustrations are fun. +

+ Wacky Pappy and the Dreidel Tornado is a colorful story about a dreidel game gone way wrong and how teamwork can save the day. +

+ Let’s Play Dreidel is a fun interactive book inspired by Herve Tullet’s super popular book Press Here. It’s just perfect for littles. +

+ Pinky Bloom and the Case of the Magical Menorah is a chapter book mystery that only Pinky Bloom, Brooklyn’s greatest detective, can solve. +

+ These ‘Indestructables’ books are SO awesome for tiny littles. And Hanukkah Baby has really bright cute illustrations and a very simple story to honor the holiday. +

+ Dusk is a neat story about the holiday season in the city and ALL of the lights that shine when the sun goes down. It’s an inclusive book that represents Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanza in the bright and interesting illustrations. +

+ This is the 25th anniversary edition of the classic tale of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. One man outwits wicked goblins that have taken over the synagogue and stopped the villagers from celebrating Hanukkah. +

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menorahs i love

EVERY YEAR I marvel at the way that artists and designers continue to interpret the menorah in such creative, interesting and inspired ways and in so many different styles. Some are very traditional and some super whimsical and fun. It’s just so cool to see how something that’s been around for thousands of years keeps evolving. Functional art, especially art that becomes part of cherished family traditions, is such a beautiful gift and a lasting reminder of the love and intention with which it was given. I gathered up a few really pretty menorahs that would make a gorgeous gift to a loved one or yourself, plus some really awesome ways to get kiddos extra excited about the Festival of Lights. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

Menorahs I Love

> This beautiful brass Modern Mensch Nosh Menorah is actually inspired by the bagel, but is so gorgeous nobody will even notice [except maybe some rumbling tummies]. It comes in 4 other pretty colors, too. < $200

> I love the unique shape of this gorgeous Ceramic Menorah. It’s handmade in Tel Aviv and despite its modern lines, is inspired by traditional menorahs. So pretty. < $273

> Keep things playful with these fabulous Jonathan Adler Menagerie Menorahs. There’s a Dachschund and an Elephant to choose from and I just love them both. They’re happy and gorgeous, too. < $132

> A dear friend gifted me this Yair Emanuel ‘Tree of Life’ Menorah and I love it so much. It’s a gorgeous bright blue, hand-painted with birds and pomegranates and it just makes me smile. Emanuel has LOTS of other menorahs to choose from in tons of styles. < $80

> Crate & Barrel’s Gehry Chrome Menorah has a modern twist without going too far outside the lines. It’s sculptural and interesting and really pretty. < $79.95

> Wow, talk about stunning functional art, this Handmade Virginia Sin Swey Menorah is exactly that. Each one is handcrafted in Brooklyn, making it completely unique. Its unconventional shape lends itself to staying out all year-round as a beautiful art piece. < $220

> Your kiddos can create their own beautiful functional art piece, with Super Smalls’ Hanukkah Activity Set. It includes a blank ceramic menorah, paint, stickers and an activity book with jokes + fun trivia. So you get a fantastic activity and a lasting piece of art all in one. Love it. < $36

> This Rite Lite Go Mini Electric Menorah is so perfect for travel or for places where a real flame just isn’t an option. It runs on either batteries or a USB cable and lights sequentially so you can properly light each night. So cool. < $12.99

> This Threshold Modern Menorah from Target is simple and pretty. It’s a blue powder-coated metal, classically designed and pretty much perfect. > $20

> I love the lines on these pretty, stylish Concrete Menorahs. They’re handmade in Isreal and come in these three subtle colors. The combination of sturdy concrete and delicate, pretty lines is really beautiful. > $100

> Serena & Lily’s Larkspur Menorah is a gorgeous blend of brass and natural rattan that has such a cool, casually elegant California vibe. The little bit of texture is just so pretty. < $148

> I love the simple, but elegant design of this steel Trace Chanukiah but probs my favorite part is that you can remove the little cups that the candles sit in so you can easily clean them out. AMAZING. It comes in 6 gorgeous colors. < $165

> This beautiful menorah from Pretti.Cool in Houston, has been hand-cast in terrazzo concrete from custom rubber molds. It comes in this pretty cobalt, black and white and each piece is completely unique. < $125

> This Josh Owen Menorah is just so pretty in its simplicity. It’s made of seamless, solid cast iron and has a BRILLIANT built-in tray for wax drips. It’s so beautiful that it’s featured in 3 museums and won the Chicago Good Design Award in 2011. < $159

> This Sur La Table Hanukkah Gold Menorah is so pretty and a bit more traditional. I love the nod to nature and the elegant gold brushed aluminum finish. < $79.95

> Ok, this isn’t exactly a proper menorah, but this adorable, bright Wooden Hannukah Menorah is an awesome way for your littles to safely participate in the ritual. The candles are removable, so kids can add one each night and even learn to match the colors. < $29.99

MORE IN… holidays + special occasions

double maple mummy cookies

SO PART of me can’t believe it’s almost Halloween and the other part is like ‘didn’t we do that 3 weeks ago?’ Maybe it’s because there has been Halloween stuff in the stores since July or because our weather has been so spectacular that it still feels like we’re tiptoeing away from Summer. In any case, my boys had their last Flag Football games of the season yesterday and it felt like treats were in order, so I figured I’d stick with the spooky theme until the bitter end. I saw these Runamok x Lenox Bakery Maple Mummy Cookies the other day and they looked so fun + yummy [and EASY]. And it turns out they are even better [and easier] than I expected, like SO so delicious that we might need to just give them all away. My boys were gushing and my little woke up this morning asking if he could have a cookie for breakfast [um, no, but I love the enthusiasm for my baking]. And if you leave off the goofy eyeballs, they’d be a fantastic treat anytime of the year, like maybe right next to the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.

THIS RECIPE calls for Runamok maple syrup, but obvs use whatever kind you like. I will say, the Cinnamon + Vanilla infusion I used in the glaze was next level and I’m guessing any of Runamok’s Infused [Cardamom would be amazing] or Barrel Aged syrups would be super delicious. I modified the original recipe slightly to accommodate my family’s dietary needs and it worked perfectly. SO, if you still need a fun + scrumptious treat for this season or the next [or the next], give these little mummies a whirl and enjoy eating them with your favorite ghouls + ghosts [or little turkeys]. xo

Double Maple Mummy Cookies Recipe

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE cookies…

• 1/2 cup butter

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup [I used Runamok Sugarmaker’s Cut]

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 eggs

• 2 1/3 cup flour (I use King Arthur Measure for Measure GF)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• candy eye balls

FOR THE glaze…

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1/3 cup maple syrup [ I used Runamok Cinnamon + Vanilla Infused]

• 1-2 teaspoons milk (I used almond, but you could probs just use water, too)

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350

• With a stand or hand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar and light brown sugar

• Add in the eggs, maple syrup + vanilla

• Mix in the flour + baking soda

• Line a baking sheet with parchment and scoop the batter into little ping pong-sized balls

• Bake for about 10 minutes or until they have just started to brown at the edges. Remove from the oven to let cool. 

• Make the glaze by mixing together the powdered sugar, maple syrup and milk until well combined, then drizzle it on the cookies to make the cutie mummies. I started with 1 tsp of almond milk and then added a bit more to thin it enough for drizzling.

• Add the candy eyeballs if you’re making mummies

• Gobble them up with your favorite ghosts and ghouls [or little turkeys]

MORE IN… recipes

reusable straws

MY AUNT Joan is a lifelong plastic straw lover. I’m not sure if she’s trying to preserve the poppy-colored lipstick she seems to wake up wearing or has a sensitivity to cold or if it’s just an unbreakable 60-year habit, but she uses a plastic straw to drink just about every liquid that goes into her body. Last year for her birthday, my mom sent her some pretty reusable straws as both a sweet acknowledgement of her sister’s quirk, but also a not-so-subtle hint to stop using [wasting] the stupid plastic ones.

WE DRINK a ton of smoothies in our house and I stopped using plastic straws several years ago as a SUPER easy way to reduce our waste. I even travel with them for on-the-road straw emergencies (along with a few sets of silverware). There are a ton of different options out there from metal to silicone to paper to glass, for home and for travel. I love the paper ones for entertaining because they come in so many colors and prints to match your theme, but I don’t recommend them for smoothies, especially if you have a chewer (just yuck is all I’m saying). So if you or someone you love, like my Aunt Joan, needs a little earth-friendly reboot in the straw department, I’ve gathered a collection to get you started. They would all make a lovely gift on their own or as a partner to another gift, like a stylish reusable bottle or mug. There’s no better win-win than a gorgeous gift that makes your special people AND Mother Earth smile. xo

Reusable Straws Make Great Gifts

|| These are hands-down the cutest Animal Friend Silicone Straws by Amalka + Albert ||

|| WonderSip straws click open for super easy cleaning and even come in a cool glow-in-the-dark version ||

|| GIR Straws come in a bunch of sizes, including some fat ones for smoothies and boba and lots of fun ones for kids ||

|| GoSili’s silicone straws come in a handy aluminum tin for travel and they’ll recycle them for you when they pass their prime ||

|| I love our Glass Straws because they’re sturdy, dishwasher safe, not plastic [duh] and you can see that theirs nothing gross lingering inside ||

|| Public Goods’ sustainable Bamboo Straws are reusable AND compostable ||

|| These Nightingale Silicone Straws are super pretty and packaged for gifting, plus the bent shape makes them easier to drink out of ||

|| Klean Kanteen’s Straws are a cool combination of stainless and silicone for the best of both ||

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fill ‘er up

EASTER for our family is a sweet day to be together and to recognize and celebrate nature’s waking from hibernation. It’s the beginning of a new season and a lovely chance to spend a minute taking in everything that’s emerging and growing and blooming after a long winter with all the hope of what’s to come. Plus, it’s just really fun. The brightly colored eggs and baskets and bunnies and candy just feel happy after a good stretch of seeing lots of brown and white and grey. So, though we don’t ‘celebrate’ in a spiritual way, it’s still a special day and a much-anticipated signal that we’ve ‘made it’ through the winter (though if we’re real, it could def be snowing).

AND WHEN there’s an opportunity to blow out the fun for my guys, you know I’m in. So I’ve already started thinking about Easter eggs and baskets and treats. Today, I’m going to share a few of my PRO TIPS for filling Easter eggs. It can be super daunting and I really hate to just jam a bunch of junk in them. I’d always rather find fewer things that I know my boys will actually like and won’t end up in the landfill by dinner. Then I fill in with candy or money to make a big pile.

IF YOU have little littles, you’re SO set. There are TONS of little bits for little kiddos that make epic Easter egg filling. Standard party favors like bouncy balls or finger monsters [my little still loves these silly things] can for sure be fun, but also look for bulk packs of toys in themes that they love, like these Minecraft figures or Thomas Minis and TAKE THEM OUT of the packaging. There. That’s my super secret weapon. It seems so simple, but a friendly reminder can’t hurt. Take treasures out of the box or the mass of shrunken plastic that requires a chainsaw to penetrate and suddenly you have lots of tiny toy bits that would fit perfectly inside an Easter egg. These cutie Peppa Pig figures, Micro Machines, Polly Pockets and Barbie clothes are all excellent examples (def check the size to make sure they’re as tiny as they look and will fit in your eggs). You can also unbox a small Lego set and put a few pieces in each egg so they have the whole collection at the end.

MY ANIMAL-loving son was OBSESSED for several years with Safari Good Luck Minis (aka ‘teeny tiny animals’ in our house), which are perfect egg filler. The Safari Toobs are also gold and there is a huge range of themes from literally every kind of animal to Friendly Fairies to Tools to Human Organs. My little has amassed bunches of these over the years because he loves them and they have a set for just about anything he’s into at the moment (they’re AWESOME restaurant and travel toys, too). Some of the contents are bigger than others, so again, just be mindful if you’re intending to stuff them into an egg, otherwise you can always put them into the basket. If your little likes to craft, you can put loose pom poms, googly eyes and fun beads in the eggs so they end up with a nice little collection of supplies to work with.

ALSO CHECK out the popular toy-style advent calendars. If you can find a theme that your kiddo would love (and isn’t chock full of Christmas trees and Santa), you can pull everything out of the cardboard and use the figures for eggs. You’ll be an Easter hero. Just don’t try to pass off old snowman chocolates or yo'u’ll be fired from Bunny duty. I did the Star Wars Micro Force calendar last year and it was fantastic (there were a few Christmas ones in there, but you can just save them for stockings later). These Squishmallow and Monster Jam ones looks awesome, too.

AND THEN there are the older kids. T(w)eens [especially boys], can be much trickier to wow with little bits. I’m totally there myself, but have a few ideas... Candy and money are obvs always a great option, but there are a couple other things that lots of biggies would find amusing. Small fidgets, like Hedgehog Rings, Monkey Noodles, Magnetic Rings or Teeny NeeDohs are fun and would all fit in an egg. If your big kid is into gaming, you could put some gold coins in a few eggs that can be traded for currency in the world they love (Robux or Minecoins or whatever). Critter, food or cube puzzle erasers are good distractions (Japanese Iwako makes lots of cute themed packs). Or these poop ones, because…t(w)eens. Vinyl stickers for water bottles, skateboards and devices can be jammed into eggs and come in designs that appeal to literally EVERY interest under the sun from hot cars to basketball to cute ‘stuff.' A quick search will almost surely find something that your kid is into. Mochi Squishies are super cute. You can also stuff in little jewelry, a fun hair tie or lip balm if it’ll fit.

ONCE YOU’VE filled your eggs like a rock star Easter Bunny, there can be other logistics to grapple with, too. If you’re having an egg hunt with a group of kids that are super varied in age or have vastly different interests, you can try color coding the eggs. One color is candy or coins that’s open game for anyone, then choose a different color for each kiddo or age/interest that’s filled with the special stuff. You’ll up their challenge by having them search just for specific eggs and everyone will end up with treasures that they love.

SO WITH just a wee bit of forethought, creativity + thinking outside the packaging, you can crush this Easter egg filling job and find treasures that will last beyond the big day. Hop Hop. xo

Easter Egg Filler

^^ LOVE these clever handmade Easter Egg Tokens that promise sweet surprises for your little bunnies ^^

^^ Dabble & Dollop Bath Bombs are squeaky clean and yummy and each one is the perfect size for those little eggies ^^

^^ Bright LED Golf Balls are so much fun all summer [or year] long ^^

^^ Put a pretty Seed Bead Bracelet in each egg to build up a whole stack ^^

^^ Chocolove Peanut Butter Filled Eggs are one perfect bite of super duper deliciousness ^^

^^ Ooly has a zillion adorable Erasers, like these Ninja Erasers that are useful and just super fun to play with ^^

^^ Spread joy with these handmade Wildflower Seed Bombs in pretty pastel colors ^^

^^ My son loves these wee little TeenyMates and they’re perfect egg size ^^

^^ Meri Meri has THE cutest Hair Clips and Slides to pop individually into your eggs ^^

^^ These wee little Koosh Minis will provide lots of good fun for everyone ^^

^^ Cute Animal Cable Protectors keep chargers from fraying and are just super adorable ^^

^^ There are 7 flavors of super yummy solid fair-trade chocolate in this colorful bag of Tony’s Chocolonely Egg-stra Special Chocolate Eggs^^

^^ My boys love playing with these old school Punch Balloons ^^

^^ A super cute pair of Gummy Bear Earrings would be an extra sweet surprise ^^

^^ Change up the look of your rad sneaks with bright new Laces ^^

^^ Whisper your dreams and worries to these tiny little Guatemalan Worry Dolls ^^

^^ Artist Oliver Jeffers designed these adorable Space Explorer Tattoos for Tattley and there are a ton of other cute themes, too ^^

^^ Little paleontologists lovers will love to find a different type of Mini Dinosaur in each egg they find ^^

MORE IN… little kids + big kids