Hanukkah in Alaska, by Barbara Brown and winner of the 2014 Sydney Taylor Book Award, is the story of what Hanukkah is like for a little girl living during a long, cold Alaskan winter. For her, daylight only lasts for five hours each day and she doesn’t have squirrels or rabbits in her backyard, she has a moose! Can she convince the moose to leave her trees and swing alone by sharing a Hanukkah treat? You can listen to Hanukkah in Alaska right now, read aloud by Molly Ephraim. Enjoy Hanukkah storytime online!
Talk!
After listening to the story, talk about some of the things that happened in it.
- What animals do you think live in Alaska?
- Why do people in Alaska have to look out for moose? What should they do if they come across one?
- There is only five hours of daylight in Alaska in the winter. Would you like it to be dark that much?
- What do they call everywhere else that is not Alaska?
- What does the moose do in the backyard?
- What things does she try to get the moose to leave?
- What holiday is the family celebrating?
- What do they see up in the sky?
Read!
Use your Library Card to check out books about Hanukkah at any of our locations, or check out Hanukkah e-books and audiobooks from OverDrive Kids right to your device!
If you have never borrowed from Libby before, Libby directions and a Libby video tutorial are available, as well as OverDrive Support.
Click on the book covers below to listen to more Hanukkah video read aloud stories right now! It’s Hanukkah storytime online! Did you like these? You can find more stories at Free Video Read Alouds and enjoy even more themed reading and activity fun at the Library’s DIY Online Storytimes at Home.
Sing!
Join Robert and the Theatre Troupe at the Miami Children’s Museum to learn about Hanukkah traditions, “the festival of lights”, and the dreidel – then sing along with them to celebrate!
Write!
Find some crayons or markers to color a picture, practice writing the letters, or see if you can follow your way through a maze without getting stuck.
Play!
StoryWalks® promotes literacy, physical activity, and family time outside! Take a walk and read a story as you go! Stroll through the park and read a book displayed in mounted frames. Or Skip. Or gallop!
Make a glowing pathway to lead visitors to your Menorah, build a Lego dreidel and play a game with your friends or family, or make this DIY Menorah Craft Using Cardboard.
Join Us for In-Person Storytime!
- Event: Dungeons and Dragons at West Indianapolis
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 10:00am
- Location: West Indianapolis Branch
- Description: Teens are invited to join the D&D 5E club. No experience is needed and materials are provided. Have fun with friends and let your imagination run wild!
- Register Here
- Event: 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 10:00am
- Location: Wayne Branch
- Description: Join staff and volunteers from the Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana to learn about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Registration is not required but you will receive an email reminder (and it can help us plan).
- Register Here
- Event: Block Party
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 31, 10:00am
- Location: Central Library
- Description: Kids are invited to flex their creative muscles and building skills at our Block Party! Stop by the 3rd floor to create with LEGOs, blocks, and other kid-friendly building materials.
- No Registration Required.
8 Nights of Bedtime Stories for Hanukkah
Here are 50+ wonderful Hanukkah stories – so many you can read more than one each night! These selections come from The Sydney Taylor Book Award that recognizes the best Jewish children’s books each year, as well as the PJ Library, the Association of Jewish Libraries, the Jewish Museum, and the Jewish Book Council.
Need Help?
Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.
