Reading With Reverence

During Hanukkah, children’s religious book experts suggest reading aloud as a way of answering children’s questions about God and religous beliefs. Some of the books cover themes that are broader than the those related to the holiday.

* “Who Knows Ten,” by Molly Cone (Union of American Hebrew Congregations Press, $12), explains the Ten Commandments using modern folk tales and parables.

* “Celebrate,” by Gilda Berger (Scholastic, $17.95), recounts children’s Bible stories about the Jewish holidays, including Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. There are recipes for special foods.

Two other books are highly recommended although they are not new. They are best-suited for reading aloud to older children.

* “How Do You Spell God?” by Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman (Morrow, 1995, $16; new in paperback, $4.95) introduces the world’s religions.

* “When Children Ask About God,” by Rabbi Harold Kushner (Reconstructionist Press, 1971, $7.95), helps answer the basics.

Books that teach specifically about the customs and traditions of Hanukkah include:

* “Let There Be Lights,” by Camille Kress (UAHC Press, $5.95), introduces toddlers to the symbols and images of Hanukkah.

* “When Mindy Saved Hanukkah,” by Eric Kimmel (Scholastic, $15.95), tells the story of a little girl no taller than Thumbelina who braves the synagogue’s cat to gather the Hanukkah candles.