Best Children’s Books for Passover 2025

April 7, 2025
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SEVEN NEW CHILDREN’S BOOKS

FOR PASSOVER 2025

~ A ROUNDUP ~

If only I had more time! This year’s offering of new Passover books for children seems to be the largest I’ve seen in a long time. It was so hard to choose what to include, and I really hoped to cover them all. Please scroll to the end to see other books I was unable to review but recommend.

REVIEWS:

MY SEDER PLATE
Written by Kristen Weber
Illustrated by Yaara Cellier
(Clarion Books; $10.99, Ages 0-4)

My Seder Plate: A Passover Book is Kristen Weber’s debut, and it’s a charming one! This book would have been a big hit in my home when my children were growing up. It’s not only richly illustrated, but it includes interesting seder details for those who are older. At the same time, it can be appreciated as a clever interactive way for little ones to simply enjoy the pictures during the celebration. Traditionally, the seder plate, like the board book, is round, “with spots for special foods.” Each food represented is significant in the retelling of the Passover story.

Open the sturdy book to reveal the seder plate and its contents on one side, a multigenerational family on the other. It includes the food name in Hebrew and in English. One word I have learned in Hebrew from attending many seders is Beitzah, egg, the second food shown. Each food item explained is in bold. The font is smaller for the more detailed portion, which a relative might explain, or perhaps an older sibling, a cousin, or a family friend. I also like how the first paragraph is in verse, which will add to a youngster’s engagement.

“A roasted egg sits on our plate,
warm and round and hard,
a symbol of the cycle of life
and hope for a new start.

The egg can be both a reminder
of the sacrifices Jewish people have
made and a symbol of new life.”

Now that all the Passover foods are covered, it’s time to try them! A big positive about My Seder Plate is that children can keep it with them and follow along while also being entertained by the art and the surprises that await them with every page turn. Chag Passover Sameach! •Reviewed by Ronna Mandel

MATZAH DAY!
Written by Charlotte Offsay
Illustrated by Jason Kirschner
(Holiday House; $18.99, Ages 3-6)

Charlotte Offsay has a talent for writing picture books with rhyme that 1. always entertain, 2. propel the story forward, and 3. employ a catchy rhyme scheme that invites read-alouds. She did it with Challah Day! and succeeds once again with Matzah Day!

This lively written and whimsically illustrated holiday story celebrates the popular Passover cracker made from water, salt, and flour that can be enjoyed in as many ways as matzah is spelled. You can even see it in this roundup spelled matzah, matzoh, and some times matza, and matzo. Are there other spelling variations that I don’t know about? Maybe! But no matter how you spell it, there is much to love about the food that came to be when “The Jewish people fled from Egypt in such a hurry that they didn’t have time to wait for their dough to rise.”

Don’t miss the three recipes included to try with the help of a parent, as well as information about exactly what matzah is, what Passover is, and why we eat matzah for Passover. I appreciated the tight rhyme when Offsay describes the different (and delicious) ways matzah can be eaten as the family gets fuller and fuller. “Like it salty, plain, or sweet? No wrong way to eat this treat! Toffee, chocolate, salted top. Once you start, it’s hard to stop.” Too right. It’s one of my Passover weaknesses, along with matzah brei, a breakfast matzah mashup my family loves year-round. The zany spreads where Kirschner has made the family members smaller sized as they play on the larger scaled ingredients are quite funny. As a feline fan, I also appreciate the adorable kitty added for good measure. What a great new read to add to your family’s Passover picture book collection. •Reviewed by Ronna Mandel

The Mysterious Missing Matzoh

Written by Alan Katz

Illustrated by Adam Auerbach
(Harper Collins BYR; $12.00, Ages 4-8)

The Cohen family is enjoying the Passover seder at Grandpa Murray and Grandma Norma’s home. It is time to hide the afikomen and Grandpa Murray is searching for the perfect spot which his grandchildren won’t be able to locate. However, when he hears that the matzah ball soup is being served, he rejoins his family. After the meal, it’s time to find the afikomen . . . but the kids don’t know where their grandfather hid it, and Grandpa Murray doesn’t remember either! So, where is the afikomen? We probably all can relate to this.

Young detectives will enjoy the pen and ink illustrations, which combine different angles and vantage points, adding both interest and a sense of mystery to the story, which has a simple yet satisfactory solution. •Reviewed by Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili

HAPPY PASSOVER, EDIE ROSE!
Written by Joy Preble
Illustrated by Valeria Cis
(Kar-Ben Publishing; $18.99, Ages 4-9)

Though not new to writing for children, Joy Preble’s debut picture book, Happy Passover, Edie Rose!, is a heartwarming take on the Passover story. Young readers will admire the meaningful relationship between an older woman, Edie Rose, and a young girl, Mia, neighbors in their close-knit apartment building. Edie Rose has created a tradition with her neighbors where they gather together in her home for a Passover seder that not only includes matzah ball soup and charoset but takes them on a journey similar to the one Moses and the Jewish people took from Egypt to the land of Israel.

Early on, Valeria Cis’s appealing artwork details Edie Roses’s seder to-do list along with illustrations of the smiling and diverse mix of neighbors. And, of course, Edie’s adorable red and white dog, Mo, is always by her side. Turning the page, we see memories of past seders with Edie and her friends coloring paper frogs and crossing through Edie’s living room pretending it’s the Red Sea. Mia spends a great deal of time with Edie when her mother works late, and despite being from different generations, the two have become great friends.

Next up, Edie is baking her chewy macaroons just before this year’s Passover. Mia’s mom walks through the door as Edie carries the hot, out-of-the-oven macaroons from the kitchen. Preble skillfully sets up the scene as Mo, unable to control his sniffer and overjoyed by the yummy aroma, dashes up to steal a cookie. The two collide. Macaroons scatter everywhere. Edie ends up in the hospital with a broken arm. Mia, with her caring neighbors’ help brings Passover to Edie. Just like in the Passover story, young Mia creates the best seder ever. “We marched together,” Mia tells Edie proudly. “All of us. Like you said.”

This charming tale with a twist asks kids why this night is different from all other nights, but this year, the answer is that all the neighbors worked together for Edie Rose—a wonderful lesson in kindness and gratitude. I loved how it showed that holidays don’t always have to be spent with blood relatives. Friends are family, too. •Reviewed by Ronda Einbinder

ROADSIDE SEDER
Written by Anna Levine
Illustrated by Naama Lahav
(Apples & Honey Press; $19.95, Ages 5-8)

Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, Benjy, and Matzah the dog are on their way to their seder in Jerusalem when the traffic comes to a standstill. What is the cause of the jam? How will they, and all of the other people on the road, reach their seders? Will there even be any seder that night? A story that keeps you guessing will also keep you turning the pages!

As sundown approaches, Benjy, dressed in his Moses get-up, comes up with the solution for a perfect seder for everyone present. And when it’s time to find the afikoman, the reader is invited along to find it in the drawing. A Passover story that gets youngsters involved is pure fun! Beautiful, inclusive representation of the religious and ethnic diversity in Israel is depicted in the colorful and cheerful cartoon-like illustrations. A letter from the author, words to know, and a recipe for charoset round out this joyous celebration of sharing Passover traditions, even in the most unusual circumstances. •Reviewed by Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili

ELLIS ISLAND PASSOVER
Written and illustrated by Marissa Moss
(Creston Books; $19.99; Ages 5-10)

Sometimes, you read a book that brings you back to a time long ago, and that’s what happened to me as I sat down to read award-winning author-illustrator Marissa Moss’s latest picture book, Ellis Island Passover. The story begins with a seven-year-old girl in a grumpy mood. (That was relatable.) Her family is coming over for the first night of Passover, and she has already been yelled at by her mom for bad behavior and sent to her room by her father for leaving a messy kitchen. She’s clearly not having a good day.

Moss’s evocative pastel drawings of the extended family being welcomed into the little girl’s home include Great Uncle Ezra, who has arrived from Chicago with slicked-back grey hair and glasses. He lives so far away that this is his first Passover with the little girl and her family. She doesn’t say hello to him, but no one notices—except Uncle Ezra. “’What is wrong with my cupcake?’ he asks.” She wonders if he can see she is in a bad mood. He sits on the floor with her and begins to tell her a story.

The story begins when he is nine years old. He’s shipped from Russia to America to live with his brother to escape the intolerable conditions the Jewish people were subjected to in their birth country. My grandfather escaped Russia as well, and reading Moss’s words made me remember the stories he told us.

Life in America had to be better than life in Russia. Once in New York, Ezra was put on a small boat to Ellis Island, the big immigration center. Ezra was given one week to stay there while authorities searched for his brother Mendel—and if Mendel couldn’t be found, he would be returned to his homeland. During his stay on Ellis Island, Ezra realized it was Passover. The Jews on Ellis Island did not have a Haggadah to read, so they decided to tell the stories with a Hebrew Bible. They didn’t have matzoh, so they used American crackers. That night, each of us was reading the story of Exodus and living the story of our own exodus, from the old world to the new, from oppression to freedom. And though Uncle Ezra has celebrated many Passovers since that first one on Ellis Island, this night, he had a new Passover story—his first Passover with his niece.

This picture book beautifully puts into words how Passover has been spent over generations while teaching Jewish children the history of their ancestors. The faded tones and pale palette of the art felt just right for this immigration story. My kids may be adults, but I still plan to share this story with them so they can understand what their great-grandfather endured for them to live in a free country. •Reviewed by Ronda Einbinder

ONE LITTLE GOAT: A Passover Catastrophe
Written by Dara Horn
Illustrated by Theo Ellsworth
(Norton Young Readers; $18.99. Ages 8-12)

Starred Review – School Library Journal

I was not prepared for the wild and wonderfully rewarding reading adventure that Horn and Ellsworth’s graphic novel took me on. Inspired by Horn’s thoughts during Passover when she was growing up, this rollercoaster ride of a story should resonate with many young readers. When I opened the first page of One Little Goat, the narrator, known as the “wise child,” quickly pulled me in when he said his seder had gone horribly wrong. I had to find out how.

Anyone who has ever attended a Passover seder that seems to go on forever will find this novel’s tongue-in-cheek humor relatable. Can you remember your stomach’s constant growling, the one relative who insists on doing things a certain way, and definitely the long way, an older cousin dipping his pinkie in the wine a little bit too much, or never finding the afikoman and winning the dollar coin? These are just a few of the Passover things we have come to expect, all captured over six chapters in 152 pages, though I wish there were more!

We meet the narrator as the seder begins, and the house is packed with family. From our safe spot, like a fly on the wall, we watch as the chaos unfolds. We learn that Dad was originally from the Soviet Union, where he could not practice Judaism, and Mom is pregnant with her fifth child. Great-Grandma, at 98, is a Warsaw Ghetto survivor. And somehow, over time, the meaning of the seder has been lost on the narrator.

To end the seder, the afikoman, or half the piece of matzah that gets hidden early on, needs to be found. However in The Little Goat, it goes missing when the baby sister tosses it into a portal where the titular goat finds and hides it someplace safe in another time zone. But he can’t recall exactly when or where. Without that important piece of matzah, the seder continues for six months! Thankfully, those I’ve attended have never lasted so long, though they may have felt that way. Talk about taking an idea and going over the top! Even more outrageous is that this particular seder is one taking place on top of layers of seders occurring concurrently over millennia. The narrator learns this when that cheeky little talking goat shows up and leads him back in time to seders of old. It’s an eye-opening experience for him as he travels through the space-time continuum, learning about the significance of the Exodus from Egypt and all the hardships the Jewish people have endured from the Spanish Inquisition to WWII where his brave Great Grandmother lived in the Warsaw Ghetto, from Minsk, USSR 1981 where his father grew up, or New York City, 1990, where his mother lived as a child.

I enjoyed how the story’s wicked humor and educational aspect paired perfectly. Ellsworth’s artistic interpretation, in black and white, of Horn’s text is impressive and easy to follow. The two work so seamlessly together that it’s hard to believe that not just one creator did it all. The novel ends in such a satisfying way that I was ready to sit back down and start it all over again. Don’t miss this recommended read. •Reviewed by Ronna Mandel

Three New Children’s Passover Books for 2024

NEW CHILDREN’S PASSOVER BOOKS

AFIKOMAN, WHERE’D YOU GO?:
A Passover Hide-and-Seek Adventure
Written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Illustrated by Noa Kelner
(Rocky Pond Books; $18.99, Ages 4-8)

There’s a mischievous personified piece of matzoh on the loose in the pages of Afikoman, Where’d You Go? and I got such a kick out of looking for him. Your kids will too! This picture book is not only written in well-crafted rhyme, it’s also relatable to anyone who’s ever attended a Seder, Jewish or not.
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At the Passover seder, youngsters are always eager to start the traditional search for the afikoman which happens halfway through the meal. The Glossary, helpfully included at the start of the story, defines the afikoman as “The piece of matzoh that is symbolically broken and then hidden, as part of a ritual during the seder.” Children hunt for him around the house or in a particular designated room. The process varies from house to house. In this tale, the kids check out every place indoors with no luck. The wily matzoh, like the Gingerbread Man, is one step ahead. Next up, the backyard.

Part of the fun is searching every single spread to see where Afikoman is hiding. I have to admit there was one spread where I could not locate the clever cracker! That’s the bathroom scene which I’ve checked multiple times. And when I did spot him, I laughed out loud a few times. The catchy refrain, “Is he hiding somewhere high? Is he hiding somewhere low? Afikoman? Afikoman? Afikoman? WHERE’D YOU GO?” adds to the read-aloudability.

When the afikoman is finally found, it’s time to return to the table and continue the seder. Here’s where the author and illustrator have included a satisfying surprise ending. The detailed artwork (created using pencil, ink, and Photoshop) includes a determined family dog who, along with a diverse group of kids, team up to track down Afikoman and enjoy themselves the entire time. One of my favorite illustrations is the children’s messy bedroom. It’s hard to know if the kids did that or if it was like that already! Sure to invite multiple readings for the holiday, Afikoman, Where’d You Go? easily gets a thumbs up from me.

EVERYBODY’S BOOK:
The Story of the Sarajevo Haggadah
Written by Linda Leopold Strauss
Illustrated by Tim Smart
(Kar-Ben Publishing; $18.99, Ages 4-8)

A richly recounted nonfiction story as colorful as the history of the titular Sarajevo Haggadah, Everybody’s Book is an enlightening read. I had the good fortune to visit Sarajevo at the end of 1989 before the city was ravaged by war but hadn’t heard about the famous Haggadah. I’m happy to have had the chance to learn. If the topic is of further interest, parents can also learn more by reading Geraldine Brooks’ The People of The Book.

The book opens with an introduction explaining how the storied Sarajevo Haggadah was first given to a bride and group circa 1350. Readers then learn that in “the late 1400s” the expulsion of Jews during the Spanish Inquisition was a scary time. In Spain, Jews were forced to convert to Christianity or leave. Lives were upended and never the same. Many families fled with nothing but the family that owned what became known as the Sarajevo Haggadah took it with them when they escaped. Over time the Haggadah changed hands multiple times eventually landing in Italy to a new generation of owners and ultimately to Bosnia where it continued to be used “during Passover Seders.”

“By 1894, the family that owned the Haggadah had fallen on hard times …” Alas the treasured family heirloom was sold. It was bought by the National History Museum of Sarajevo, a religiously diverse and mostly tolerant city where it was revered. The museum managed to keep the Sarajevo Haggadah safe until WWII broke out.

When the Nazis tried to get their hands on it, the fast-thinking museum director fabricated a web of lies but that didn’t stop the Nazis from searching the museum albeit to no avail. It is said that the curator then took the Haggadah to “a remote village, where an imam of a small mosque hid it among sacred Islamic texts.” When the war ended the Haggadah was returned to Sarajevo but peace there remained fragile.

After WWII, “Bosnians, Serbs, and Croats became part of unified Yugoslavia under one leader.” Following his death in 1980, tensions that had been simmering over the years reached a climax, and fighting among the three groups began. “In 1991, Serbs attacked Bosnia.” Another war threatened the safety of the Sarajevo Haggadah. When the museum was bombed the following year, a Muslim university professor helped rescue the book once again. This new war saw the destruction of the National and University Library of Sarajevo though citizens “formed a human chain to save whatever books they could. By this time, not just Bosnians knew about the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, and the world worried about this treasure.

One of my favorite spreads is the one that depicts a Passover Seder in 1995, in the midst of the war. “Christian, Orthodox, Catholic, and Muslim leaders joined Jews at Sarajevo’s only remaining synagogue …” During the Seder, the Bosnian President, a Muslim, arrived with the Haggadah to assure all those in attendance that it was safe. When the war ended and the Bosnian National Museum was constructed, the Sarajevo Haggadah was restored and placed among other historic treasures for all to see. Everybody’s Book could now truly be enjoyed by everybody. Tim Smart’s watercolor art has a sketch-like, loose quality showing the flow of time and the ever-changing circumstances the Sarajevo Haggadah endured. This picture book is an important one that emphasizes how the power of people from all religions and walks of life can make a difference when they find common ground. How lucky we all are that this marvelous book from a marriage over 670 years ago has survived. Oh, the stories its pages could tell!

ON ALL OTHER NIGHTS:
A PASSOVER CELEBRATION IN 14 STORIES
Edited by Chris Baron, Joshua S. Levy, and Naomi Milliner
Illustrated by Shannon Hochman
(Amulet Books; $18.99, Ages 8-12)

While there could be a plethora of themes for a Passover anthology, selecting the 14 steps of the Seder as an entry point is perfect. It’s what drew me to this book in addition to the title. It did not hurt that a host of bestselling and award-winning authors and one author-illustrator embraced and wrote about one particular step. Their instructions were only to approach the topic in any way they desired. This made for a fascinating and engrossing read. If I had the time, upon finishing my first read-through, I could have started all over again. It’s just that good!

As I dove in, I never knew what type of story would greet me, and that’s only one part of the magic of this holiday collection. Whatever way you choose to read On All Other Nights, you will be treated to a variety of top-notch middle-grade voices, approaches, plots, and characters. You can read it all in one sitting, devouring every delicious and meaningful step, or take it one short story at a time, savoring each one slowly like the Seder meal itself. At the start of each story, there is a brief, helpful description of the step. I was impressed at how creative the stories tackled each subject. Apropos of the title are also four thoughtful questions (the Four Questions being an important element of the Seder which generally the youngest asks) tweens can contemplate or parents and teachers can use for discussions.

Just like there are many kinds of Jewish ethnicities around the world (e.g. Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, and more) and different branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and more), there are many different stories in this collection. Each story has a unique style and appeal. I loved the story featuring an Autistic character, Myra, who could not stand the smell of gefilte fish. It especially resonated with me having a son with sensory processing disorder for whom certain smells can drive him out of a room as it did for the girl in this story. Another story that’s stayed with me is the one about a family of Romanian immigrants on New York’s Lower East Side. In it, the brother and sister are tasked with getting the maror (bitter herb) for the Seder from their father’s pushcart. At his sister’s behest, the brother retells a fairy tale about a witch and a memory spell. This relates to the brother’s annoyance that his sister does not seem to remember much of their life in Romania before emigrating. Later on, the younger sister cleverly and courageously helps her brother rescue a new Polish immigrant being beaten up, revealing some surprising truths.

The fourteen On All Other Nights contributors include: Chris Baron, Ruth Behar, Adam Gidwitz, Veera Hiranandani, Amy Ignatow Sarah Kapit, Joshua S. Levy, Mari Lowe, Naomi Milliner, Soifya Pasternack, R. M. Romero, A. J. Sass, Laura Shovan, and Laurel Snyder.

Black and white art accompanies every chapter and the captivating cover invites children to think about their own role in the Seder. Readers are treated to tempting recipes in the backmatter from celebrated chefs and professionals. Contributor bios and acknowledgments can also be found there. At a recent signing event, editor Joshua S. Levy explained that the anthology is a mirror and window book. It communicates core human values to a wide audience with universal appeal. And that same evening, Chris Baron said the challenge with the anthology was “How do you breathe life into these steps?” To which I say “Exactly like On All Other Nights did. Brilliantly!”

Click here to read last year’s roundup.

Also Recommended:

WHY ON THIS NIGHT?:
A Passover Haggadah for Family Celebration
Written by Rahel Musleah
Illustrated by Louise August
(Kalaniot Books; $19.99, Ages 7-11)

Publisher Description:

The rich traditions of Passover come alive in this contemporary family haggadah. Updated from the original 2000 edition, this holiday favorite is available again for families to treasure. As children and adults gather at the seder dinner to remember the Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom, this creative, yet authentic haggadah will guide and engage them. Lushly illustrated, with blessings and text of every major section of the haggadah in Hebrew, English translation, and transliteration, the welcoming and accessible style of Why On This Night? will make it a treasured seder companion year after year.

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Kids Books for Passover 2020 – A Roundup

PASSOVER PICTURE BOOKS

Passover will be different this year because we’re self-isolating. And since it’s advisable to not meet up with family and friends, some of us may participate in Seders via video teleconferencing. We may also have to choose new menu variations based on what food is available. One thing that won’t change is the Passover story in our Haggadahs and the variety of wonderful books we can share with our children. Here are some books worth reading during this eagerly awaited eight day holiday.

WELCOMING ELIJAH:
A PASSOVER TALE WITH A TAIL
Written by Lesléa Newman
Illustrated by Susan Gal
(Charlesbridge Publishing; $16.99, Ages 5-8)

★Starred Review – School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness

I loved the new perspective Newman has captured with her gently flowing, lyrical language in Welcoming Elijah. It’s been years since I thought about all the times I went to my Aunt’s front door and opened it for Elijah when I was a child. So reading about the main character’s experience filled me with joy. As readers feel the young boy’s anticipation about every aspect of the evening’s Seder inside, they’ll also be introduced to a stray cat outside mimicking many of the steps that are taking place at the dining room table.

Inside, the boy dipped
parsley into salt water.

Outside, the kitten chewed
a wet blade of grass.

Inside, the boy broke
the middle matzo in half.

Outside, the kitten split
a twig in two.

When at last the youngster opens the front door for the Prophet Elijah, and looks outside, it’s not the prophet who makes an appearance at the Seder, but a friendly kitty looking for a home. Gal’s warm palette adds to the uplifting ambiance in all her illustrations. This sweet Passover tale should resonate with many children who look forward to celebrating Passover and all its beloved kid-centric rituals of not only asking the four questions, and finding the afikoman, but to welcoming Elijah into their homes year after year. Back matter about the holiday is also included.

Asteroid Goldberg cover

ASTEROID GOLDBERG:
PASSOVER IN OUTER SPACE
Written by Brianna Caplan Sayres
Illustrated by Merrill Rainey
(Intergalactic Afikoman; $18.95, Ages 4-8)

You may think you’ve heard of every kind of Seder possible, but I have a feeling you’ve never heard of a Seder in outer space. And Asteroid Goldberg is no ordinary story so if you have children who are into all things cosmic, Sayres’s 40-page holiday picture book will deliver just the right blast of humor and read aloud rhyme.

As space-whiz Asteroid steers the spaceship home from Pluto in time for Seder, she and her family are notified they’ll “have to wait to land.” The timing couldn’t be worse and Passover prep will now require an added dimension. Looks like this family’s going to have to search for Pesach supplies in the Milky Way!

She aimed their ship toward Jupiter.
So many yummy moons!

“Matzoh balls!” said Asteroid.
“All we need are spoons!”

The clever way our plucky heroine finds all the food on offer in outer space is just one of the things children will enjoy when reading this far out story. The idea of dining in an anti-gravity setting is such fun as is an intergalactic afikoman hunt. Rainey’s jewel-toned illustrations are cheerful and humorous, complementing this truly creative Passover tale. Once given the all clear to land from Houston, the Goldbergs deliver readers a surprise ending for those of us who know the traditional closing of the Seder as being “Next year in Jerusalem!”

I LOVE MATZAH
Written by Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili
Illustrated by Angelika Scudamore
(Kar-Ben Publishing; $6.99, Ages 1-4)

I Love Matzah is an adorable board book ode to the delights of the unleavened bread we eat during Passover. Its simple rhyme pattern is easy for little ones to repeat and to anticipate the rhyming word from the illustrations. There are so many different ways and times of day to enjoy matzah, whether you have it after a morning stroll or with yogurt in a Passover bowl. But what happened to matzah brei, my fave? Scudamore’s bright artwork adds to the upbeat feeling conveyed on all 12 pages of this charming read. Parents can point out the boy’s I ❤ Matzah t-shirt and help their kids try reading the rhyming words printed in red, an educational component that works quite well.

ALLIGATOR SEDER
Written by Jessica Hickman
Illustrated by Ellisambura
(Kar-Ben Publishing; $6.99, Ages 1-4)

Alligator Seder is such a funny spin on the Seder stories we usually see. This 12-page full color board book is guaranteed to get laughs with its gorgeously illustrated gator family getting ready for Passover. There are some truly funny lines such as:

They look for bits of chametz.
They’re good investigators.
They’re really just like you and me—
except they’re ALLIGATORS!

Mommy gator makes gefilte fish. Gator guests join the celebration. Their mouthful of teeth make for some serious matzah crunching sounds. However for me, the ending is what’s perfect. In fact, it was the inspiration for the name of my Zoom Passover Seder this year which is called Seder, See Ya Later!

Everyone is going home.
They all say, “See you later!”

Another year, another splendid
ALLIGATOR SEDER!

If you want to bring smiles to any Seder, I recommend getting a copy of Alligator Seder to share and get swamped in the best possible way!

Reviewed by Ronna Mandel

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Paulie’s Passover Predicament by Jane Sutton

March 28, 2018
goodreadswithronna
Ages 3-8, Children's Book Reviews, Holidays & Festivals - Jewish Holidays, Juvenile Fiction, Passover

PAULIE’S PASSOVER PREDICAMENT
Written by Jane Sutton
Illustrated by Barbara Vagnozzi
(Kar-Ben; $17.99 hardcover, $7.99 paperback, Ages 4-6)

I don’t have a flair for cooking and it seems the same can be said about the main character and moos-ician, Paulie, in Paulie’s Passover Predicament by Jane Sutton. As the Passover Seder host, Paulie gets all the important dishes wrong. But unlike me, Paulie scores points because he at least makes the effort to prepare an entire meal whereas I’m more comfortable (and it’s safer, too) being someone else’s Seder guest.

Paulie’s invited all his animal friends over which includes Evelyn, Horace, Irving, Moe and Sally. At first his pals seem impressed by his Passover Seder spread. Soon however, as each traditional dish is served, there are giggles, chuckles and guffaws. “I see you have an extremely large egg on your seder plate,” said Moe. How big you ask? It’s an Ostrich egg!

Int artwork from Paulie's Passover Predicament — Interior artwork and text from Paulie’s Passover Predicament © 2018 by Jane Sutton, Illustrations copyright © 2018 Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

There’s pepper in the salt water that’s supposed to represent “the tears of our ancestors when they were slaves,” but Paulie’s put pepper in so the pepper wouldn’t be jealous of the salt. He’s mixed pine cones instead of walnuts into the charoset, uses grass in place of parsley, and for the maror he’s carved a horse out of a radish instead of using horseradish!! But rather than ridicule Paulie who is embarrassed and saddened by his mistakes, his pals realize he’s just put his own special spin on the seder and love him for it. Happy again, Paulie reflects on the special meal. “He loved dipping his hoof in grape juice as he and his friends recited The Ten Plagues.”

When Sally is selected to hide the afikomen, everyone goes searching. Lucky Paulie finds it but unluckily gets stuck in the basement until his ingenuity saves the day (and the afikomen). I like the symbolism in his being set free just like our ancestors were and the special camaraderie amongst all the friends afterwards as they sing Dayeinu. “If God had only taken us out of Egypt, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.”

Vagnozzi’s joyful artwork will delight youngsters, some of whom may be old enough to recite The Four Questions. Paulie’s Passover Predicament is a light-hearted look at the holiday and reinforces the message that it’s really not about the food, but about being together and honoring the traditions of the past generations. Enjoy your read-aloud time with this story and wishing all those who celebrate a very happy Passover 2018!

About Passover From Paulie’s Passover Predicament:
Passover is a spring holiday that celebrates the exodus of the Israelite slaves from Egypt. The holiday begins with a festive meal called a seder. Symbolic foods recall the bitterness of slavery, the haste in which the Jews left Egypt, and the joy of freedom. Children ask The Four Questions and look for the hidden piece of matzah—the afikomen—at the end of the meal.

Reviewed by Ronna Mandel

Click here for a link to 2017’s Passover book review of A Different Kind of Passover
Click here for a link to 2016’s Passover book review, More Than Enough

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A Different Kind of Passover by Linda Leopold-Strauss

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PASSOVER
Written by Linda Leopold-Strauss
Illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau
(Kar-Ben; Hardcover, $17.99;
Paperback, $7.99; eBook, $6.99, Ages 4-9)

Any child who has ever celebrated a holiday when someone special couldn’t attend will relate to A Different Kind of Passover. But even those who haven’t will appreciate the sentiments expressed and the lovely twist author Linda Leopold-Strauss has added in this heartwarming story I’m delighted to share.

Grandpa is sick and has just come back home from the hospital. That means the Passover seder will be different this year and narrator Jessica wonders how that will change things, especially now that she’s going to ask the Four Questions in Hebrew. And since she’s finding it hard to imagine a seder without Grandpa, Jessica soon realizes it doesn’t have to be that way. Grandpa may be nearby tucked in bed, and wearing pajamas, but how convenient that “… Grandpa’s door opens to the dining room?” notes an enthused Jessica. When Grandpa questions his participation in such attire, Grandma remarks, “Does God care if you’re in your pajamas?” The plan is hatched and the seder will take place with most things remaining the same as always and just a few things different like Grandpa reclining in bed and cousin Mark “getting to sip sweet wine instead of grape juice, since he has just had his bar mitzvah.”

The joy of family and tradition in this story is wonderfully conveyed through Tugeau’s muted illustrations. I love the varied perspectives he shares, especially the ones where we know it’s Grandpa looking out on his family seated around the dining room table. Nothing says everyone must be in the same room for a seder so when Jessica comes up with the great idea to include Grandpa by leaving his bedroom door open, it’s symbolic in so many meaningful ways. Leopold-Strauss has created a sweet and thoughtfully written seder story that will resonate with young readers for years to come.