Category
Picture BooksAn inclusive, heartwarming Hanukkah tale that mirrors the holiday’s themes of rededication and resilience.
Nate’s beloved menorah was lost in his family’s recent move, and finding the perfect new one isn’t going well. With Hanukkah one night away, Nate is missing his menorah and everything else about his old home, where everything fit just right. Then, a trip to a local shop with his dad’s results in something else lost—Kugel, the shop’s cat. Nate sets out to help, and by the time he’s ready to light the first candle, he discovers that, like in the story of Hanukkah, everything in his new home can be made right again, too.
This sweet and reassuring Hanukkah story feels like a cozy hug on a winter night! With endearing characters and a super satisfying, heartfelt ending, families will reach for this new holiday classic again and again.
So thrilled to announce that Lost and Found Hanukkah has been selected by the Association of Jewish Libraries for their Holiday Highlights List of Best Jewish Holiday Children’s Books for Fall 2025! The ten titles chosen are being celebrated for both high quality and authentic representation of the Jewish Holidays, including Hanukkah!
Read the Reviews
Upon relocating to a new community, a child struggles to make a holiday celebration special.
“I love Hanukkah. I love how it is always the same,” says Nate. But his family’s recent move changes everything. When his beloved menorah goes missing, his two fathers (Daddy and Abba) take him to a Judaica shop, where they meet shop owner Amy and her cat, Kugel. While Nate attempts to find the right menorah, Kugel runs into the street. Nate mounts a search campaign, passing out flyers and, at last, coming up with an ingenious way to find the cat. In the process, he discovers the inspiration for his own special menorah. Preble’s elegantly told, engaging story celebrates the joy of observing long-standing traditions and making room for new ones; her tale also draws deft connections with the Hanukkah story: “The Maccabees didn’t give up, Nate,” Abba tells him. “And neither did you.” Anchin’s warm, detailed, and expressive illustrations draw readers in. The artwork depicts a variety of Jewish experiences, including multiple types of head coverings, a wide variety of creative menorah designs, and a shop featuring a large assortment of Jewish ritual objects. Nate is tan-skinned, Daddy is pale-skinned, and Abba is brown-skinned.
A heartwarming holiday tale about finding friends and creating new beginnings.
– Kirkus Reviews