Is it Passover Yet?

January 12, 2015
The first signs of Passover are visual: the blooming, the greenness, a warmer sun. “When we see from the window a robin or wren/ And the squirrels play high up on the trees once again.../ Passover is on its way,” writes first-time author Barash. But as the big day approaches, attention shifts indoors, and bystanders become busy participants: “Everyone scurries from room to room” cleaning the house from top to bottom. The fancy dishes are brought out, delicious smells “of kugel and sweet matzo cake and cinnamon” waft from the kitchen, the doorbell heralds the arrival of guests, and soon a tuneful seder is underway. Although some readers may wonder why the pictured seder seems to be starting in mid-afternoon, this is in all other ways a gentle, thoughtful tribute to the joys of being observant in both a secular and religious sense. Psacharopulo’s (Jingle Paws) winsome pictures (her chipper, ovoid birds are adorable) and happy, collaborative family speak to a time of year when hope and renewal seem particularly close at hand. Ages 4–7. Illustrator’s agency: Good Illustration.

February 1, 2015
Spring's arrival ushers in budding trees, chirping birds, and the sprucing up of house and home that lets Jewish children know the holiday of Passover is almost upon them.Soft paintings in pastel hues create a refreshing palette for this family as they eagerly work together to prepare for the upcoming holiday. The simple, rhyming text provides a successive level of gentle anticipation with each turn of the page as the time before the upcoming holiday decreases, and each new activity announces another step closer. "When our fanciest dishes come out of the drawer / And Elijah's cup sparkles like diamonds galore... / Passover is on its way." From cleaning to setting the table to cooking the special foods, children will begin to recognize the annual rituals that lead to the holiday itself. And while the story ends just as the family settles around the table and does not include explanations for any of the dinner's ceremonial aspects, children will nevertheless be inspired, particularly as the rhyme spreads itself out over three successive page turns for the climactic moment when everybody sits down to the meal. "When the Seder is ready and candles are lit // And Nana's shown everyone just where to sit... // Passover is here!" A joyful and inviting prelude to the weeklong celebration and observance. (Picture book/religion. 3-5)

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February 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-A simple story about preparations for Passover. Rhymed couplets hint at the holiday, followed by the repeated phrase "Passover is on its way" and finally "Passover is here!" The story ends when the seder begins, and no explanations of the customs are offered. The digital illustrations are cheerful with soft colors and gentle rounded forms; many elements of Judaica appear throughout, from a tzedakah box on a shelf to a "Shalom" doormat. The family depicted is Jewish but not traditional in dress, with men and boys donning kippot only for the seder. While the overall effect is pleasantly anticipatory and the illustrations are charming, there are several ways in which the story trips up. The art repeatedly fails to match the text: the page describing "a bucket and mop or a long handled broom" shows a broom and a vacuum cleaner, with a mop appearing two pages later. The words "When the sun's getting low and the doorbell stops ringing" are accompanied by images of people approaching the door on a bright day, not yet having rung the bell. This couplet ends with "And everyone's ready for stories and singing" but the family is not ready for these activities, as they are greeting relatives who have not even removed their coats. Worst of all, the book closes with the lines "When the Seder is ready and candles are lit/And Nana's shown everyone just where to sit.../Passover is here!" This text is accompanied by images showing lighted candles at an empty table and a mom bringing in the seder plate. This is incorrect Passover procedure. Those following a hagaddah know that the seder plate should already be on the table and all should be seated before the candles are lighted as the opening act of the seder. VERDICT Despite the book's charms, the inconsistencies in illustration make it hard to recommend.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Simple rhymes and a repetitive refrain depict one family getting ready to celebrate Passover. The children look for signs of spring outside and signs of cleaning inside while many ritual aspects of the holiday are incorporated. The illustrations are bright, engaging, and evocative of springtime but don't always align with the text: e.g., "the sun's getting low" appears on a sunny daylight spread.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)