IS IT PASSOVER YET?

Spring’s arrival ushers in budding trees, chirping birds, and the sprucing up of house and home that lets Jewish children know the holiday of Passover is almost upon them.

Soft paintings in pastel hues create a refreshing palette for this family as they eagerly work together to prepare for the upcoming holiday. The simple, rhyming text provides a successive level of gentle anticipation with each turn of the page as the time before the upcoming holiday decreases, and each new activity announces another step closer. “When our fanciest dishes come out of the drawer / And Elijah’s cup sparkles like diamonds galore… / Passover is on its way.” From cleaning to setting the table to cooking the special foods, children will begin to recognize the annual rituals that lead to the holiday itself. And while the story ends just as the family settles around the table and does not include explanations for any of the dinner’s ceremonial aspects, children will nevertheless be inspired, particularly as the rhyme spreads itself out over three successive page turns for the climactic moment when everybody sits down to the meal. “When the Seder is ready and candles are lit // And Nana’s shown everyone just where to sit… // Passover is here!”

A joyful and inviting prelude to the weeklong celebration and observance.