A sweet and very welcome introduction and accompaniment to a lovely and joyous springtime festival.
Even the youngest celebrants can participate in Passover festivities.
With very simple language and lively, colorful illustrations, this charming board book will help adults explain the basic and most important elements of the Passover seder to young kids. Step by step, a young, tan-skinned child wearing a yarmulke takes readers through the rituals of the seder service: setting the table with the seder plate laden with symbolic foods, lighting candles, drinking grape juice, washing hands, dipping parsley in salty water, asking the four questions, reciting the Passover story, eating matzah, combining a bitter food with a sweet one, having dinner, looking for the afikomen (a piece of matzah hidden for children to find during the service), and singing joyous songs afterward. A close-knit tan-skinned family is depicted enjoying the seder and celebrating the warmth of togetherness, traditions, and a story that has been told through the millennia about hard-won freedom and a people’s salvation. The meanings behind some of the rituals aren’t explained here; these can be left for a later time at grown-ups’ discretion. The young child guide to the holiday is depicted being readied for bed after the seder, a fitting end to a celebratory evening. The Hebrew word todah ("thank you") is included and defined. The QR code on the back cover allows readers to access “Songs for a Family Seder.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet and very welcome introduction and accompaniment to a lovely and joyous springtime festival. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72845-937-0
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2022
Though bland and requiring a bit of interpretation, this board book has a message that church school teachers and parents...
An idealized explanation of what prayer looks like for the youngest parishioners.
A multicultural array of toddlers illustrate the many ways to praise God. Six of the children are white, while six are varying shades of brown. All have the same round heads and bright pink cheeks. The intended message is clear: whether by singing or raising hands in supplication and joy, in a group or alone, praising God is good. The actual message is rather confusing, with some paradoxical contrasts. “I can praise God with my eyes open wide” is accompanied by a bug-eyed girl with her arms flailing. The opposite page presents a much more attractive picture of a boy with “eyes squeezed shut.” The text above the girl banging on a drum reads, “I can praise God LOUD.” That positive message seems to be contradicted by the next illustration of a boy who seems to be shushing her, accompanied by text that reads, “I can praise God quiet—Shhhhh….” A spread reprising nine of the children ends with the word “Alleluia” but does not explain its meaning. A quote from Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,” concludes the lesson.
Though bland and requiring a bit of interpretation, this board book has a message that church school teachers and parents looking for faith-based resources will appreciate. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: April 4, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5064-2190-2
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Sparkhouse
Review Posted Online: April 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
A solid board book for little ones starting to develop the concept of God.
Little ones learn about God’s love.
An Asian baby smiles winningly on the cover, beckoning readers. The Lord loves all his children unconditionally, and this board book helps little readers begin to grasp that concept. On the first page, the text begins, “God loves you when you’re…” while opposite a two-toothed little black girl beams out at readers. Each subsequent turn of the page reveals a different baby making different faces. There’s a “happy” face, a “grumpy” face, a “silly” face, and more. The babies presented are of multiple races, though pale-skinned babies predominate on the inner pages. One-word text describes the emotions displayed on each face, and the final page provides a mirror as little readers are told, “God loves you and I do too!” The photographs are brightly lit and set against white backgrounds, emphasizing the different faces. The message is broken down simply enough to be easily understood by little ones beginning their relationships with God, and this lesson of love is an essential building block.
A solid board book for little ones starting to develop the concept of God. (Board book. 1-2)Pub Date: June 13, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5064-2184-1
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Sparkhouse
Review Posted Online: April 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
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