Feld­heim has released a new children’s hag­gadah, arranged and illus­trat­ed by Devo­rah Bene­dict. This is quite a feat. Let’s Go Free With Miri and Tzvi is a full hag­gadah; no skip­ping of any text here. The text is also trans­lat­ed, which is a help. Young read­ers are tak­en through the whole sto­ry of the hag­gadah in a graph­ic-nov­el style with child guides, Miri and Tzvi. They are mod­ern chil­dren who are able to wit­ness the whole sto­ry, and the read­ers are able to ​“live” the sto­ry with them. The art­work is ren­dered in vibrant desert col­ors, which are quite appro­pri­ate to the sto­ry. The warm tones and almost gold­en glow of the book cre­ate a warm, fam­i­ly atmos­phere that is evoca­tive of the seder. 

There is also a Wal­do-like chameleon char­ac­ter. At the front of the book, the chameleon explains that he can be found on every page and that the young read­ers should look for him but remem­ber that, since he is a chameleon, he will change col­or. This is some­thing that can keep a child engaged for quite a while (per­haps as the grown-ups are tak­ing their time com­plet­ing the seder.) Because of the com­bi­na­tion of graph­ic art and tra­di­tion­al text, this is a book both chil­dren and grown-ups can spend hours por­ing over and can enjoy together.

Rec­om­mend­ed for ages 9 – 14.