A simple riddle format introduces young children to the symbols and concepts of Passover. Descriptive clues such as “I am a mixture of apples, nuts, and a little wine” appear on the left-hand page. In a larger font on the right side, the refrain asks, “What am I? What could I be?” Open the sturdy fold to reveal the answer in the illustration and the text: “I am charoset on the Seder plate. That’s me!” The egg, pillow, candles, kiddush cup, Haggadah, karpas, frogs, matzah, afikomen, and the prophet Elijah are all presented in this straightforward manner with some items receiving an additional explanation (“I remind everyone of the mortar the enslaved Jewish people used to build the pyramids.”) The large, bold, digital illustrations depicting a contemporary Jewish family are cheerful, cute, and inviting. Toddlers already familiar with the holiday observances will be delighted by this easy interactive guessing game. This is a part of the “My Look and See Holiday Book” series that also includes Halloween, Christmas, and Easter; hopefully the publisher will continue this successful series with additional Jewish holidays. Recommended for ages 2 – 5.
Rachel Kamin has been a synagogue librarian and Jewish educator for over twenty-five years and has worked at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, IL since 2008, currently serving as the Director of Lifelong Learning. A past chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee and past editor of Book Reviews for Children & Teens for the Association of Jewish Libraries News & Reviews, her articles and book reviews appear in numerous publications. She has been a member of the American Library Association’s Sophie Brody Book Award Committee since 2021.