On Sunday morning, Vroman’s Bookstore will open its doors to a festive gathering that blends storytelling, family tradition, and the joy of Hanukkah. At 11:00 a.m., author Dara Henry will present a reading and signing of her picture book Hanukkah Pajamakkahs, an event co-presented by Vroman’s and PJ Library of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel & Pomona Valleys.
The December 14 timing is deliberate: the program arrives just hours before sundown ushers in the first night of Hanukkah. Families and readers are invited to mark the holiday not only with candles and latkes, but also with the warmth of children’s literature.
Henry’s appearance underscores the role of books in shaping cultural memory and community celebration. By situating the reading at Pasadena’s landmark bookstore, organizers highlight the intersection of local tradition and Jewish storytelling. The event is designed as a communal moment — a chance for children to meet an author whose work reflects their holiday rituals, and for parents to connect with the broader literary and cultural fabric of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.
In a season defined by light, the morning gathering at Vroman’s offers another kind of illumination: the shared delight of words, pictures, and pajamakkahs, setting the stage for Hanukkah 2025.
The event, Author Reading and Book Signing: Dara Henry’s Hanukkah Pajamakkahs, takes place on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101-2116. Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the bookstore’s adjacent lot and nearby structures; standard Pasadena rates apply. For more information, call Vroman’s at (626) 449-5320 or visit www.vromansbookstore.com.
