TALIA AND THE PASSOVER HUG-GADAH

A misunderstanding baffles a young Jewish girl trying to make sense of Passover rituals.

When her grandmother hands her a stack of Haggadahs to put on the seder table, Talia is confused by the term. “Hug-gadah,” she chuckles. “What a funny name for a book!” As the seder begins, she wonders when the hugging portion will begin. Marshall’s lighthearted text leads readers through various aspects of the seder, such as lighting candles, saying a blessing over the wine, and hand washing. The biblical story of Moses is told, the symbolic foods introduced, the hidden piece of matzah found, and the four questions sung. Assirelli’s cheery illustrations, rendered in earth tones sprinkled with pops of color, feature characters who vary in skin tone; Talia is light-skinned. Though Talia may be confused, the audience is unlikely to be, thanks to Marshall’s playful text, rife with delightful dramatic irony. In previous books, Talia has been perplexed about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Purim, and this installment makes a worthy addition to the series. Filled with hugs before and after the seder (although not during!), the tale provides a strong overview for those unfamiliar with the holiday.

A joyful and humorous Passover celebration.