Here are three new picture books you might like to share with your young readers during the eight days of Passover. First up is a new version of an old favorite.
The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel,
illustrated by Sean Rubin
Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2021, 40 pages
It's the eve of Passover 1933 and in the midst the Depression, no one is able to prepare a proper Seder. That includes young Muriel and her family. They barely have wine to pour into Elijah's cup for when he visits. On her way home, Muriel sees a magician in threadbare clothes juggling eggs that turn into lit candles as his clothing changes into silk. Amazed, Muriel gives him her only penny. The magician tells her to hurry home for her Seder, and even knowing there is no food in the house, Muriel heads home to her apartment, where she finds her parents sitting in front of Elijah's almost empty cup. When there is a knock on the door, it is the magician who points out the suddenly and miraculously overly full Seder table, complete with everything needed. Unsure about this, Muriel rushes to the rabbi's house, who returns home with Muriel and a crowd of others who also had empty Seder tables. Everyone enjoys their now wonderful first night of Passover, but Muriel wonders how did this miracle happen? Then she sees Elijah's now empty cup and has the answer to her question. Based on the original Yiddish tale "The Magician" by I.L. Peretz (Der Kuntsenmakher, 1917), Kusel's retelling feels fresh and carries a message of faith and hope that today's readers can really benefit from. The original story took place in a shtetl, this version is set during the Great Depression for today's readers living through a pandemic where so many have felt economic hardship again. The illustrations, done with graphite and digital color, nicely contrast spring's awakening in Washington DC in bright sunny colors with the poverty of so many of it's residents, including Muriel's family, done in dark shades of brown and gray. Back matter includes A Note from the Author, A Note from the Artist, and A Note on the Passover Holiday.
This book was an eARC gratefully received from Edelweiss+
illustrated by Julie Downing
Candlewick Press, 2021, 32 pages
Though it doesn't go into detail about the Passover story from Exodus, in which Moses was placed in a basket and set to drift down the Nile to save him from Pharaoh's wrath in the hope that he would be found and safe, this is still a charming story for younger readers. In a wordless two page spread, the fearful face of the woman by the river where she has just sent her baby off in a basket will give children the sense of the danger and parents the option of telling youngster as much or as little about why this happened as they think their children can handle. What follows, however, is the story of baby Moses' journey down the Nile. Told in rhyming quatrains, the story follows Moses in his basket and the different animals he encounters as he floats downstream, who all help him along the way. The ibis gently pushes Moses out of the reeds he is caught in, a mama hippo rises from the water and nudges the now sleeping baby along, while a crocodile protects him through a storm, until the currents eventually cause him to drift to shore. There, the Pharaoh's daughter, who has been bathing in the Nile River, hears the whimpering baby and pulls him from the water. It ends with a wordless two page spread of the Pharaoh's daughter holding up baby Moses surrounded by the helper animals. This is a sweet and hopeful story, though not necessarily true to the original story in the Bible, and the beautifully lush, detailed watercolor illustrations, done in healthy shades of blues and greens, add much to it.
I received this book from Candlewick Press in exchange for a honest review
The Passover Mouse by Joy Nelkin Wieder,
illustrated by Shahar Kober
Doubleday BFYR, 2021, 32 pages
This story is based on an actual passage in the Talmud, which discusses the laws and customs of Passover, that considers the question of what to do about a mouse who might steal a piece of leavened bread before it is destroyed. In this story, Rivka is a widow living alone. She's just finished cleaning her house the day before Passover and has all her leavened bread out to be burned the next morning, according to custom. But before that happens, a white mouse runs off with a piece of the bread from Rivka's and straight into the cobbler's house with it. But then a black mouse runs out of the cobbler's house with a piece of bread and straight into the matchmaker's house. Suddenly, a cat runs out of the matchmaker's house with a piece of bread in its mouth. Is it the very same piece of bread that went from Rivka's to the cobbler's to the matchmaker's? Or is it a different piece? Will their homes need to be searched again for any leavened bread? The villagers decide to ask the rabbi, who searches his book of Jewish laws and concludes that the matter is undecided. Now what? Everyone is still so much to do before Passover begins. The villagers decide to help each other house by house. Happy for that help, Rivka invites them all to stay for Seder, which everyone enjoys, especially Rivka. And yes, there's a funny bit at the end that I think young readers will get a kick out of. This is a delightfully funny/serious book for young readers with a definite folktale feel. I think kids who are familiar with Passover will definitely enjoy this picture book, but for those who aren't familiar with it, it is a nice introduction to some of the customs and traditions associated with this important holiday. The cartoon-like illustrations are colorful and appealing, even the mice, and do not detract in the least from the seriousness of the preparations for the Passover seder. There is a note at the end about the Talmudic passages the story upon which is based.
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
If you are looking for Passover books about community, generosity, hope, kindness, and tradition, maybe with a little mischievousness thrown in, you can't go wrong with these three.
No comments:
Post a Comment