Families who loved Elijah's Angel: A Story for Chanukah and Christmas by Michael J. Rosen often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child starts noticing that friends or neighbors celebrate different holidays and wonders if participating in someone else's traditions is a betrayal of their own. It is a gentle, sophisticated tool for navigating the tension between maintaining personal religious identity and showing love for a friend from a different background. The story follows Michael, a young Jewish boy, and his friendship with Elijah, an elderly Black Christian woodcarver. When Elijah gifts Michael a hand-carved angel, Michael is caught between his love for his friend and his fear of 'graven images' forbidden by his faith. This 6 to 10 year old appropriate story beautifully illustrates how symbols of friendship can transcend religious boundaries without compromising one's heritage. It is a perfect choice for families seeking to build interfaith empathy and cultural confidence during the winter season.
