Books with Jewish Characters

Last updated: November 18, 2025

From fun picture books and fantasy to historical fiction, kid-friendly biographies, teen romance, and coming-of-age tales, these books reflect Jewish life, history, humor, culture, and values, as well as traditions like b'nai mitzvah and holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, and Passover. For more stories of Jewish courage and perseverance, check out our lists of Books About the Holocaust, World War II Books for Kids, and Movies That Represent and Celebrate Jewish Heritage.

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My First Books of Jewish Culture book cover: Cheerful cartoon rainbow with smiling face, rosy cheeks, and little black feet on soft pink background

BOOK

My First Books of Jewish Culture Series

age 2+

Delightful books celebrate Jewish traditions, everyday life.

Suzy Ultman Board (2025)

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All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah Poster Image

BOOK

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah

age 3+

Little sister finds way to contribute in warm holiday story.

Emily Jenkins Holiday (2018)

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J is for Janucá book cover: Menorah against blue background, with leaves, stars, and flowers around the border

BOOK

J Is for Janucá

age 3+

Joyful bilingual Hanukkah book honors Latino-Jewish culture.

Melanie Romero Picture Book (2022)

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A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love Poster Image

BOOK

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love

age 4+

Knitting = love in this warm and fuzzy tale of kindness.

Michelle Edwards Picture Book (2016)

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Afikomen, Where'd You Go? book cover: Kids look for Afikoman, a little matzo character, who's hiding on a treehouse roof

BOOK

Afikoman, Where'd You Go?: A Passover Hide-and-Seek Adventure

age 4+

Beloved Seder tradition becomes fun visual game for readers.

Rebecca Gardyn Levington Picture Book (2024)

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book cover of Measuring a Year

BOOK

Measuring a Year: A Rosh Hashanah Story

age 4+

Intriguing holiday book asks, "How do you measure a year?"

Linda Elovitz Marshall Picture Book (2022)

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Oskar and the Eight Blessings Poster Image

BOOK

Oskar and the Eight Blessings

age 4+

Exquisite Hanukkah story has universal blessings theme.

Richard Simon , Tanya Simon Picture Book (2015)

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Simon and the Bear Poster Image

BOOK

Simon and the Bear

age 4+

Polar bear, faith save boy in sweet Hanukkah miracle tale.

Eric A. Kimmel Holiday (2014)

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cover of Star Stuff book

BOOK

Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos

age 4+

Beautifully illustrated book introduces kids to Carl Sagan.

Stephanie Roth Sisson Picture Book (2014)

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book cover of the Keeping Quilt

BOOK

The Keeping Quilt

age 4+

Quilt keeps memories of home alive in heartwarming tale.

Patricia Polacco Picture Book (1988)

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The Passover Guest book cover: We see from behind a bald-headed man entering a home where guests are gathered

BOOK

The Passover Guest

age 4+

Depression-era setting adds grit to magical Passover tale.

Susan Kusel Picture Book (2021)

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Chinese dad wearing a yarmulke and Jewish mom wearing a head scarf stand with their kids surrounded by symbols of the New Year holiday in both cultures

BOOK

Two New Years

age 4+

Fun bicultural tale of Chinese and Jewish New Year holidays.

Richard Ho Picture Book (2023)

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book cover of Tia Fortuna's New Home

BOOK

Tía Fortuna's New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey

age 5+

Family memories ease the pain of moving in sweet tale.

Ruth Behar Picture Book (2022)

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Welcoming Elijah book cover: A boy wearing a yarmulke looks down and smiles at at a white kitten outside in some greenery

BOOK

Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail

age 5+

Warm holiday story gives kids a cute animal to follow.

Lesléa Newman Picture Book (2020)

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I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark Poster Image

BOOK

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

age 6+

Inspiring bio of Supreme Court justice empowers girls.

Debbie Levy Picture Book (2016)

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Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued Poster Image

BOOK

Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued

age 6+

Inspiring true story of lifesaving hero and WWII refugees.

Peter Sis History (2021)

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You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! Poster Image

BOOK

You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

age 6+

Inspiring intro to the baseball great's life.

Jonah Winter Sports (2009)

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No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Poster Image

BOOK

No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

age 7+

Meaty bio of RBG shows how she fought for women's rights.

Kathleen Krull Picture Book (2018)

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All-of-a-Kind Family Series Poster Image

BOOK

All-of-a-Kind Family Series

age 8+

Loving stories of a large Jewish family in 1915 New York.

Sydney Taylor Historical Fiction (1984)

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Best Wish book cover: Girl with blond hair sitting cross-legged on the floor with an open box that has pink light coming out

BOOK

Best Wishes (Best Wishes, Book 1)

age 8+

A mysterious bracelet brings surprises in kind story.

Sarah Mlynowski Fantasy (2022)

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