Hanukkah storytime for preschoolers

Books:

Happy Hanukkah, Biscuit! story by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; pictures by Pat Schories.
New York : HarperFestival, c2002.
Most pages extend open with flaps.

The borrowed Hanukkah latkes by Linda Glaser; illustrated by Nancy Cote.
A. Whitman, 1997.
A young girl finds a way to include her elderly neighbor in her family's Hanukkah celebration.

Just enough is plenty : a Hanukkah tale by Barbara Diamond Goldin; paintings by Seymour Chwast.
Viking Kestrel, 1988.
With Hanukkah about to begin, Rivkeh is worried because her family is so poor, but when a poor stranger comes to the door, her generous family cannot turn him away.

Latkes, latkes, good to eat : a Chanukah story by Naomi Howland.
Clarion Books, 1999.
In an old Russian village, Sadie and her brothers are poor and hungry until an old woman gives Sadie a frying pan that will make potato pancakes until it hears the magic words that make it stop.

The runaway latkes written by Leslie Kimmelman; illustrated by Paul Yalowitz.
Albert Whitman & Co., 2000.
When three potato latkes escape Rachel Bloom's frying pan on the first night of Hanukkah, everyone including the cantor, the rabbi, and the mayor joins in the chase.

Is it Hanukkah yet? by Nancy Krulik; illustrated by Dyanne Di Salvo-Ryan.
Random House, 2000.
A little girl waits with great anticipation all day until the sun sets and Hanukkah can begin.

Hanukkah! written by Roni Schotter; illustrated by Marylin Hafner.
Joy Street Books, c1990.
Describes the meaning and traditions of Hanukkah as five children and their family celebrate the holiday.

The great Hanukkah party by Suzy-Jane Tanner.
HarperFestival, c1998.

Flannelboard:

EIGHT LITTLE CANDLES

Eight little candles in a row,
Waiting to join the holiday glow.

The first night we light candle number one.
Hanukkah time has now begun.

The second night we light candles one & two.
Hanukkah's here--there's lots to do.

The third night we light up to three.
Hanukkah's here---there's lots to see.

The fourth night we light all up to four,
Each now a part of the Hanukkah lore.

The fifth night we light all up to five,
Helping our Hanukkah come alive.

The sixth night we light all up to six.
Happy candles---happy wicks.

The seventh night we light all up to seven.
The glow of each candle reaches to heaven.

The eighth night we light all up to eight.
Hanukkah's here----let's celebrate!

Make a menorah out of felt, and nine candles and nine flames. You may let the children add the flames as you add the candles for this rhyme.

I have a little dreidle
I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready
Then dreidle I shall play.

Chorus:
Oh Dreidle, Dreidle, Dreidle
I made it out of clay
Oh Dreidle, Dreidle, Dreidle
Then Dreidle I shall play.

It has a lovely body
With legs so short and thin
And when it gets all tired
It drops and then I win
~Chorus

My dreidle's always playful
It loves to dance and spin
A happy game of dreidle
Come play, now let's begin!
~Chorus

Five Little Latkes

Five little latkes were sizzling in the pan	wiggle 5 fingers
One jumped out, said catch me if you can!	put 1 finger down, use finger on other hand to run away
And it jumped and it ran all around the kitchen floor,	continue finger running
When I turned around it ran right out the door!	running finger behind back
Now, there's 4 little latkes.	Continue down with 3, 2, 1.

Five little latkes sizzling in a pan	hold up five fingers
One went pop	clap hands
And then it went bam.	slap floor
Four little latkes sizzling in a pan...	continue down to none

I am a little dreidel	Point to yourself
I am a little top	Pat your head
When you twist my handle,	Spin around
I spin until I drop!	Fall to the floor

I Am A Blue Dreidel
Act out with children

I am a blue dreidel wound up tight!
I whirl and whirl with all my might!
And now the whirls are out of me.
So I'll rest quietly as can be!

Hanukkah Fingerplay

Here is my Menorah, Eight candles burning bright.	Hold up your hands with your thumbs touching.
The middle one is the shamash It keeps them burning bright	Wiggle your fingers. Then fold fingers into hand leaving the thumbs showing.

4 baking potatoes, grated
1 small onion, grated
1 egg, lightly beaten
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 tablespoons flour

Mix all ingredients well; then drop by large rounded spoonfuls onto a hot skillet, generously greased with oil. Fry on both sides until brown and crispy. Serve piping hot with sour cream and applesauce. Delicious!

The Dreidel Game

To celebrate Hanukkah, make a dreidel. A dreidel is a four sided top. You will need an egg carton, some short pencils, some pennies, and a felt tip marker.

Make a top by cutting the egg cups out of the egg carton. Carefully stick a small pencil through the bottom of each egg cup. Mark each of the four sides of the egg cup with one of these markings: 0, All, ½ , 1.

Give each player ten pennies. Everyone puts a penny in the pot before each player's turn. Each player takes turns spinning the dreidel. Players either win pennies or give up pennies, depending on what they spin: If the dreidel lands on 0, the player gets nothing; if it lands on ALL the player gets the whole pot. If it lands on ½, the player gets half the pot, and if it lands on 1, the player must add one penny to the pot.

If it is too much work to make your own dreidels, you can contact your local synagogue. I did this and they gave me about thirty plastic dreidels to use with the children. If your children are too young to understand the rules of the game, they will still enjoy watching the dreidels spin!

Billy Bear's Hanukkah All sorts of downloadable activities and art
Hanukat a little bit of everything including links
Chanukah with Aish nice coloring pages
Sheera Music Delightful Chanukah music on CD or tape is available through this site.