Weekly Trip to the Library
Tonight starts the celebration of Passover. Passover is my favorite Jewish festival that celebrates the freedom attained by the Hebrew people following their exodus from Egypt where they had been slaves for either 430 years or 210 years, depending on the scholarly conclusions one follows. During the Seder tonight children learn the importance of telling and re-telling the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
Here are some Passover books that we didn’t list last year. Consider borrowing them from the library or purchasing them below to prepare children for Passover.
By Sylvia A. Rouss
By Leslie Kimmelman
The Little Red Hen has gone through various versions and permutations, but surely this is the first time she has a Yiddish accent. Realizing it’s almost Passover, the Little Red Hen says, “Oy gevalt!” She needs matzah for her seder dinner, and that means growing wheat. Horse, Sheep, and Dog are not interested in helping. Harvesting? Again, nope. Milling? “We’re resting.” By now, the Little Red Hen realizes she’s dealing with a bunch of no-goodniks. She bakes the matzah (“according to Jewish law . . . in just eighteen minutes”) and then sets her seder table. Guess who arrives? “What chutzpah!” But then the Little Red Hen remembers the Haggadah’s words: “Let all who are hungry come and eat.” Children familiar with Passover will get a kick out of this, and the ink-and-watercolor art amusingly captures both the Little Red Hen’s aggravation and the animals’ turnaround. Those really in the know might wonder about a sheep at a holiday table where lamb’s blood plays a major role, but, hey, at least none of the guests are pigs. Preschool-Grade 1. — By Ilene Cooper
A Touch of Passover (A Touch and Feel Book)
By Ari Sollish
Join the wide-eyed illustrated kids of A Touch of Passover as they pat and prod their way through the symbols of the Passover Seder. Curious fingers will be unable to resist the bumpy matzah, leafy bitter maror, sticky wine droplets and more. Boys and girls are equally represented and impishly drawn to accompany the simple but engaging text. Printed on tough board book with wipe-able pages, A Touch of Passover will survive to be enjoyed throughout many Seders.
Let’s Ask Four Questions (Board book) – Common
By Judyth Groner
This is the perfect Passover book for a toddler’s library. The Four Questions are an important part of the Passover Seder that highlights the ways in which Passover customs and foods distinguish the holiday from other times of the year. They are traditionally recited by the youngest person at the table during the fifth part of the seder, though in some homes everyone reads them aloud together. This is a sturdy, colorful board book with rounded corners and a spill-proof laminated cover.
Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim: A Passover Story
By Deborah Bodin Cohen
Young Nachshon’s family has been enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaohs for generations. He fears that this will be his destiny too. But, when Moses confronts the wicked Pharaoh and then leads the Jews out of Egypt to the Red Sea, Nachshon gets the chance to overcome his fear of the water — and to realize his dream of freedom. The biblical legend of the brave boy who was the first to step into the sea when the waters parted for Moses, will inspire children to examine and deal with some of their own fears.
A Children’s Haggadah
By Howard Bogot and Robert Orkland
This unique Haggadah designed especially for young children will be a delightful asset to any seder table – at home, in religious schools or at community centers. The authors do more than merely retell the story of the Exodus; through special foods, prayers and songs the children personally experience the miraculous event. The brilliant design and beautiful illustrations elevate the text into an imaginative source for children and meaningful work of art for all those who experience it. Includes art on every page and a vibrant accordion foldout of the seder plate. There are 72 color illustrations, with a Hebrew opening but most of the book is written in English.
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