The Story of Hanukkah by David Adler Review: Worth Reading?
A short picture book that tells the Maccabees and the oil in plain words, with paintings by Jill Weber. Made for reading aloud on the first night.
Yes, for a family with kids from preschool to early grade school. It tells the actual story behind the holiday in simple text [1]. Skip it for toddlers, who need a sturdy board book instead of paper pages.
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated October 29, 2026 · Sources
Specs at a glance
| Author | David A. Adler [1] |
| Illustrator | Jill Weber [1] |
| Publisher | Holiday House [1] |
| Format | Paperback [1] |
| Length | 32 pages [1] |
| Reading age | 3 to 7 years [1] |
| Grade level | Preschool to grade 3 [1] |
Pros and cons
- Paper pages, not a board book [1]
- The battle scenes may need a parent's framing
- Too simple for older readers
The why behind the candles
Kids know Hanukkah means candles, dreidels and latkes. Fewer know why. This book answers that in one sitting, with the Maccabees, the Temple and the oil told in order.
David Adler has written many books for young readers, and this one keeps to the core story without a talking animal or a holiday mascot in the way.
Thirty-two pages with paintings
The listing describes a 32 page paperback from Holiday House, illustrated by Jill Weber, for readers aged three to seven [1]. The publisher calls it the story of the courageous Maccabees retold in simple yet dramatic text [1].
The paintings show the battle, the Temple and the menorah [1]. That makes it a book to read together, with a child pointing at the pages, rather than one to hand over and leave.
Thirty-two pages is a deliberate length. It holds a young child's attention from the first page to the last, and a parent can finish it before the candles without rushing the ending.
Paper pages and a battle
This is a paperback. A toddler who chews or tears pages will finish it before the holiday ends; for the very young, a board book holds up better [1].
The story includes a war, and the pictures show it [1]. Most kids take it in stride, but a sensitive four year old may have questions. Reading it first, before the first night, lets a parent decide how to tell it.
Older kids, past second or third grade, may find it too simple. For them, it works best read aloud to a younger sibling.
Reading it before the candles
The book is short enough to read in the minutes before sundown, which makes it a small ritual for the first night.
From this guide, it pairs with the wooden dreidels from The Dreidel Company for the game after, and with a box of Ner Mitzvah candles if the family is lighting its own menorah for the first time.
FAQ
What age is The Story of Hanukkah by David Adler for?
The listing gives a reading age of three to seven years and a grade level from preschool to third grade [1]. Younger kids enjoy the pictures while a parent reads, and early readers can try it on their own by the end of the holiday [1]
Does the book explain the Hanukkah story accurately?
It retells the story of the Maccabees, the Temple and the oil in simple text for young children, according to the publisher's description [1]. It is a starting point, not a history lesson. Older kids who want more detail will need a longer book or a conversation with family [1]
Is The Story of Hanukkah a board book?
No. The listing describes a paperback picture book of 32 pages [1]. That is fine for preschoolers who handle books with care, but a toddler may tear the pages. For the youngest kids, a board book about the holiday is sturdier, and this one can wait a year or two [1]
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Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listing for the The Story of Hanukkah by David A. Adler
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on October 29, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.
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