Once upon a time in a cozy little town, there lived a young girl named Sammy. Sammy loved the winter season because it meant it was time for Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. This special holiday was all about celebrating miracles, joy, and togetherness with family and friends. 

This was Sammy's first time being old enough to help with the Hanukkah preparations, but she didn't quite understand what this celebration meant. So, Sammy headed home to ask her mother.

Sammy's mother explains why Hanukkah is celebrated. She says "Hanukkah is a special time when we celebrate how brave the Maccabees were. They fought to keep their faith strong and their traditions alive. It's like a big party to say thank you for their courage! We also remember how the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was made special again after the Maccabees won against the bad rulers. So during Hanukkah, we light candles, play games, and have fun to remember these amazing stories!"

Sammy is a little confused. She asks her mother "Mom I haven't seen anything about Hanukkah in the Tanakh. Where does it come from?"

Her mother explains "The story of Hanukkah is not directly mentioned in the Tanakh, but it is in old writings like the Books of Maccabees."

Later that day, Sammy and her brother, Mike, are finding the perfect spot to place the menorah. 

"Why do we have a menorah?" asks Mike.

Sammy tells Mike about what a menorah means, "Mom says a menorah is like a special candle holder with lots of candles. It represents the miracle of Hanukkah when a tiny bit of oil lasted for eight days in the Holy Temple. Each candle reminds us of the days that the oil kept burning even though there wasn't much left. It's a symbol of hope, miracles, and celebrating the good things in life!"