Lost and Found Hanukkah by Joy Preble

Lost and Found Hanukkah

Joy Preble

Chronicle Books · Print & ebook · September 23, 2025

A Picture Books pick for readers exploring Lost and Found Hanukkah.

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Who it’s for
Families celebrating Hanukkah who want a modern, inclusive holiday story
Themes
Resilience through change, Family and belonging, Hanukkah traditions
Genres
Hanukkah Stories, Jewish Religious Stories, Family Stories

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Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved. Most of these share its genres: Hanukkah Stories and Jewish Religious Stories.

  1. The Mysterious Missing MatzohAlan Katz63% match
  2. Max's MaskHavvah Deevon55% match
  3. Mazel Toes!Audrey Barbakoff56% match
  4. Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Hanukkah Party!Leslie Kimmelman54% match
  5. Gingerbread DreidelsJane Breskin Zalben63% match
  6. Eight Nights of Lights: a Celebration of HanukkahLeslie Kimmelman68% match
  7. Construction Site Hanukkah LightsSherri Duskey Rinker65% match

For older readers: Eight Very Bad Nights: a Collection of Hanukkah Noir, It's a Whole Spiel, As a Jew

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About this book

An 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 dads results in something else lost—Kugel, the shop’s cat.

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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. A MODERN HANUKKAH TALE: Set in a present-day city with a young protagonist living in a community of neighbors who feel like family, this book stands out from many traditional Hanukkah stories and reflects the way many Jewish families celebrate today. DIVERSE BOOKS FOR KIDS: Celebrating the diversity of Jewish families, Lost and Found Hanukkah offers the unique perspective of a boy celebrating Hanukkah with his two dads. THOUGHTFUL THEMES: This story is sweet and affirming and also shares a simple but powerful message about the meaning behind the Festival of Lights. Rather than focusing only on the usual Hanukkah celebration elements, it beautifully illustrates the themes of rededication, resilience, and resourcefulness central to the holiday. REASSURING READ IN TIMES OF TRANSITION: More than a narrative about moving or losing a menorah, this special book speaks to how change and loss affect us all and gently reaffirms that moving forward and finding new sources of light, comfort, and companionship is always possible. Perfect for: - Anyone who celebrates Hanukkah - Parents or grandparents looking for a thoughtful, modern, and inclusive holiday story - Children going through change and transition - Gift-giving to kids or families for Hanukkah

Who it’s for

  • Families celebrating Hanukkah who want a modern, inclusive holiday story
  • Children experiencing change or transition

Where it sits

Hanukkah Stories98%
Jewish Religious Stories67%
Family Stories34%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Hanukkah Stories
  • City & Town Life
  • New Experiences
Authors
Joy Preble
Publisher
Chronicle Books
Published
September 23, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Resilience through change · Family and belonging · Hanukkah traditions
Reading lane
Hanukkah Stories