Personalized Hanukkah storybooks
A Hanukkah book starring your child.
A Hanukkah storybook starring your child, drawn from their photo: find the missing shamash in time to light the menorah. Ready in minutes.
Ages 2 to 9 · Free to try · Photos never stored · Ready in about 5 minutes
What's in the book
Hanukkah books for young children are easy to find. One where your own child lights the candles is not. Panelo draws your child from a photo and writes Eight Nights of Light around them: on the first night the shamash, the helper candle, has gone missing, and your child follows a trail of tiny lights through the house and the snowy street to find it before sundown.
Along the way they spin the dreidel, help fry the latkes and hear why the lights burn for eight nights. The details follow tradition (nine branches, the candles lit by a grown-up from right to left), and there's no Christmas imagery mixed in.
Grandparents, siblings and the dog can join, each drawn from their own photo. The book is ready in about five minutes, so it can be tonight's gift.
The story
Why a Hanukkah book makes a good gift
One for each year
Make a new book each Hanukkah and you'll have a shelf that shows them growing up.
Grandparents can be in it
Bubbe and Zayde can be heroes too, drawn from their photos, which makes it a gift for them as well.
Ready for the first night
No shipping, so it's ready even if you remember on the day.
Make it theirs
The more you tell Panelo, the more the story sounds like your family. Good things to mention:
- Who lights the candles in your family
- A family recipe (latkes, sufganiyot, brisket)
- Their favorite Hanukkah gift or game
- A grandparent or cousin to bring into the story
How it works
- 1
Add a photo
One clear photo of your child (and anyone else in the story). Panelo draws them as a storybook character, then the photo is discarded.
- 2
Pick the story and style
Start from Eight nights of light or any of the 49+ stories, in one of 10 art styles.
- 3
Read, print or share
The cover and first two pages are free. Unlock the whole book to download the PDF and share a flip-book link.
Choose the art style
3D MovieLike a big animated film
StorybookSoft paint & pencil
Classic AnimationHand-drawn movie magic
CartoonBold & bright TV cartoon
Vintage StorybookInk & watercolor classic
Retro Golden1950s picture book
Paper CollagePainted tissue paper
Anime DreamSoft painted anime film
Clay 3DCozy stop-motion
Indian MiniatureJewel-toned Pichwai painting
Questions parents ask
Is the story accurate to Jewish tradition?
It's written to be: the menorah has nine branches with the shamash, candles are lit by a grown-up, and the story of the oil that lasted eight nights is told simply for young children. You can add your family's own traditions in the details box.
When is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah lasts eight nights and its dates follow the Hebrew calendar, so it moves each year. In 2026 it begins on the evening of 4 December.
Is my child's photo stored?
No. The photo is used once to draw your child as a storybook character and is then discarded. Saved and shared books contain only the drawings.
Can I make one from my country?
Yes. Panelo is made and delivered online, so it works everywhere: the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the UAE, India and beyond. There's no shipping: you get a read-aloud flip book, a share link and a PDF you can print at home or at any print shop.
How much does it cost?
Trying it is free: you get your child as a cartoon hero, their story, the cover and the first two pages. The full book (up to 10 pages, up to four heroes including pets) is $6.99 one time (£5.99, €6.99, ₹449 and other local prices), or $14.99 for 3 books. No subscription.
