What a delight to have a Passover book for young children that doesn’t include the ten plagues! This author’s elegant solution: “Moe sits in a lap to be sure he can see. Together we read the story of how, now, we are free.” In sweet rhyming verse, this picture book celebrates the warmth of family and Passover traditions. Grandparents arrive for the Seder with Mama, Papa, their three children and Izzy, the puppy. Their Seder is about food, finding the hidden “special piece of matzoh,” singing songs, opening the door for Elijah, and finally, a huge family hug. The youngest child’s exclaiming “Deelish!” while ogling a plate of gefilte fish may make adults smile at the stretch, but the story’s appeal is sure to win over both children and adult readers.
A page at the end helpfully explains the “whys” behind many of the Passover traditions shown. The warm orange glow of the gouache and acrylic paint drawings over digital collage infuse the story with an innocent joy. Springtime details endear, such as the two robins sitting over three eggs on the title page. On the final endpaper, the happy baby birds have hatched. A concluding illustrated game to hunt through the book for nine Passover items adds another level of fun for the pre-school audience. Ages 3 – 5.
