Short chapters and bright illustrations inform readers about the origin, history, rituals, food, symbols, and meaning of Passover. Written at a primary grade level, the text is clear, accurate and respectful of Jewish tradition, except for a dubious sentence that reads: “According to legend, God heard their prayers and sent a simple shepherd named Moses to help them.” The illustrations are realistic and dynamic, with lots of color, activity, and detail. Along with a Table of Contents and short index, there is a glossary; words defined in it are printed in bold the first time they appear in the text. The book’s strongest element is its brief discussion of Passover’s theme of freedom and some suggested activities to reflect the theme. Useful as an introduction to the holiday for ages 7 – 9.
Linda R. Silver is a specialist in Jewish children’s literature. She is editor of the Association of Jewish Libraries’ Jewish Valuesfinder, www.ajljewishvalues.org, and author of Best Jewish Books for Children and Teens: A JPS Guide (The Jewish Publication Society, 2010) and The Jewish Values Finder: A Guide to Values in Jewish Children’s Literature (Neal-Schuman, 2008).