Based on the classic chapter books by Sydney Taylor

• Awarded the 2019 Sydney Taylor medal
• A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018
• A National Jewish Book Award Finalist

★ "Share this joyous holiday tale of a Jewish immigrant family all year long." --Kirkus (starred review)

★ "When two top picture book talents (the team behind the Toys Go Out series) introduce a new generation to Sydney Taylor’s classic stories of Jewish family life on the Lower East Side, it’s what’s known in Yiddish as a mechaye— something that gives great joy." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ "Without concentrating too much on the details of the Hanukkah story, Jenkins captures the warmth the holiday engenders. Zelinsky does a masterful job with the artwork, drawing with bold strokes that have energy and emotion."
--Booklist (starred review)

★ " This original picture book based on Sydney Taylor’s beloved characters serves as a perfect standalone Hanukkah read, or an inviting introduction to the author’s All-of-a- Kind Family middle-grade classics."
--Horn Book (starred review)

★ "While readers need not be familiar with the classic series, generations of parents who grew up with this unforgettable immigrant family will certainly welcome this new picture book as the perfect way to introduce these memorable characters to the next generation of readers.." --School Library Journal (starred review)

" ... flavored with dashes of history and love – a lovely recipe for any holiday." --USA Today holiday roundup

" ...one of the best Hanukkah books in a long time" --New York Times Book Review



Jo Taylor was an only child who loved hearing the stories her mother Sydney told of growing up in New York's immigrant-packed Lower East Side during the 1910's, one of five daughters in a bustling, loving household. Sydney wrote them down, and in 1951 All-of-a-Kind Family, and later its sequels— slightly fictionalized versions of the family stories— caught the public's attention. They were the first American children's books about a Jewish family to be published for a universal audience, and they gained universal acclaim.

Now Emily Jenkins has written a new picture book about this same beloved family, and Paul Zelinsky had the pleasure of illustrating it.

This is Random House's website for All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah extras: coloring pages; Emily's latke recipe with Paul's comments; notes from the back of the book discussing the original Sydney Taylor books, the history of New York's Lower East Side, a book list for further reading, and Emily's and Paul's personal relation to this story. Also on the site are excellent resources for teachers and librarian to use the book.

It's December, 1912; at sundown Hanukkah will begin, and four-year-old Gertie can't wait to help Mama and Gertie's four older sisters make latkes, the potato pancakes traditional for the Jewish holiday.

All of her sisters are at work in the kitchen.

Unfortunately for Gertie, she is too young to peel potatoes with the sharp peeler, or grate the onions, or ... anything!

Poor Gertie!

But Papa will come home, and he will think of something!

Click here to order All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah from an independent bookstore near you