I’m considering giving eight children’s books as a way to celebrate Hanukkah! We don’t shower our kids with a lot of gifts during the holidays and typically I leave the Hanukkah gift giving to the in-laws.
I don’t want my kids to come to expect and associate the holidays with lots of presents. But I still thought, wouldn’t it be fun to give a new book in a series each night? After all, they are books! BOOKS! I would be encouraging reading, supporting my independent bookstore and hard-working authors. Plus, I would be saying to my son: “I love our read aloud time!” How could it not be a great idea?
OK, new books can be expensive if you buy eight at a time, but try used bookstores, they are often teeming with popular series books. Often, if you buy the series as a boxed set, it is cheaper over all. I haven’t included holiday themed books below, but take a look at my list of holiday books for interfaith kids if you want some of those.
Kids’ Book series for Hanukkah gift-giving:
If you can’t resist the lure of eight new books for your child this Hanukkah, here are a few good series which have at least eight books in them. (Note – I love all these books and included affiliate links.)
Easy Readers:
Henry and Mudge
Mr Putter and Tabby
High Rise Private Eyes
Elephant and Piggie (So funny!)
Chapter books for Early Readers and/or Read Alouds:
Captain Underpants (there are exactly eight!)
Ricky Ricotta (there are 7, plus Ricky Ricotta’s Astro Activity Book of Fun)
Katie Kazoo Switcheroo
Magic Tree House
Roscoe Riley Rules (ok, there are only 7 here, but too good not to include)
Stink (there are 8 Stink books, 2 Stink-O-pedias and 2 Judy and Stink combo books)
Judy Moody (Stink’s sister)
Flat Stanley
Roald Dahl(OK, not a series, but sooo good!)
The Wizard of Oz (like the movie? The books are better!)
Betsy-Tacy
Harry Potter (again, only 7, but so much other paraphernalia to choose from for the 8th gift)
Ramona Quimby (you could also mix and match this with Henry Huggins books, which feature Beezus and Ramona)
Picture Books:
The Stella and Sam Books
Toot and Puddle
Sandra Boynton (New Kid loves The Going to Bed Book!)
Curious George
Science Book Series:
A True Book series
Let’s Read and Find Out (There are different levels, depending on your child’s age)
Math Start (also different age levels)
There are, of course, many others! Got any good series to recommend for eight-in-a-row gift giving?
Raising a Happy Child says
I like the idea even though we don't do 8 days of gifts for Hanukkah considering that we also celebrate Christmas. I want to read 8 Hanukkah books this year – better get ready! Other possibilities for series could include Richard Scarry books or Dr Seuss books.
bioluminescence says
Magic School Bus! Great science read alouds, or they are supposedly a 3rd garde level.
My 3 1/3 yo is LOVING them right now. Don't forget Series of Unfortunate Events too.
A picture book biography each day would be great too, even for the wee littles, books like you find at http://biographybreak.blogspot.com/
We love Manfish, and Bottle Houses, and Stone Girl Bone Girl, and Mother to Tigers, and SO many others.
Fanny Harville says
We just started All-of-a-Kind Family by Sidney Taylor. There are I think 10 books in the series, and it's about a Jewish family of 5 girls on the Lower East side c. 1915. Perfect for Hanukkah?
Mom and Kiddo says
All excellent suggestions! I hadn't thought of All of a Kind family, I should get that from the library.
@ Raising a Happy Child: Actually I hate Dr. Seuss. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say that out loud, but it's true.
Rebecca says
I’m all about the graphic novels. What about Babymouse by Jennifer and Matt Holm, or the Lunch Lady series? Perfect for 1st-3rd graders.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Yes, those would be good, too. I wrote this post a long time ago, before my son started reading graphic novels. 🙂