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Welcoming Elijah

Leslea Newman

Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award, Welcoming Elijah by celebrated author Lesléa Newman, unites a young boy and a stray kitten in a warm, lyrical story about Passover, family, and friendship.

Inside, a boy and his family sit around the dinner table to embrace the many traditions of their Passover Seder around the dinner table. Outside, a cat wonders, hungry and alone. When it's time for the symbolic Passover custom of opening the family's front door for the prophet Elijah, both the boy and the cat are in for a remarkable surprise.

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The Story of Passover

David A. Adler

On Passover, Jewish people all over the world celebrate their freedom from slavery and their beginnings as a great nation. 

This simple introduction to the Passover story pairs an engaging retelling with bold illustrations, perfect for young readers.

One of the most significant holidays in Jewish tradition, Passover commemorates Moses leading his people out of slavery in Egypt.  The Story of Passover recounts the major events of the story in dramatic but accessible language, from Jacob settling in Egypt to the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. 

The text and images have been vetted for accuracy by a rabbinical authority, and the book includes an author's note about the modern Passover celebration, the seder, and how the different parts of the meal symbolize elements of the story.

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The Secret Seder

Jacques and his parents are hiding in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, pretending to be Catholics. On the first night of Passover, Jacques and his father elude Nazi soldiers to gather with other Jews and celebrate the Seder in secret. For this book, Doreen Rappaport researched the lives of resistance fighters and Jews in hiding: brave men and women who managed to survive one of the darkest times in history with their faith intact. Emily Arnold McCully's intense and respectful paintings illuminate the perils of a turbulent time and the triumphs of a resilient people.

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The Passover Zoo Seder

S. Daniel Guttman

How would the animals celebrate their Seder? There's mayhem at the zoo when not a single animal can find a Haggadah that isn't too worn to read. Then, Shai Elephant remembers the ceremony and soon each animal has its own role in the Pesach celebration. This fanciful and funny Passover verse invites all to share a tongue-twister, chant the Dah-yaynoo with Horsey, steal the Afikoman with a Baboon, and end the meal with Lion's Ma-Roar.

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The Passover Lamb

Linda Elovitz Marshall

This Passover, enjoy this delightful picture book that's perfect for the whole family!

When a sheep on her family's farm starts acting strangely, Miriam is worried. Spring lambing season is over, so what could be wrong with Snowball? Then--surprise--the sheep gives birth to triplets! When she realizes that the mother has enough milk for only two of her newborns, Miriam knows that the third baby will have to be bottle-fed every four hours. But it's almost Passover, and the family is about to leave for her grandparents' seder. And it's Miriam's turn this year to ask the Four Questions, which she's been practicing for weeks! When Miriam's father decides that they must stay home to care for the lamb, it's up to Miriam to think of a clever and--hilariously fitting--way to rescue both the baby lamb and her family's holiday.

Author Linda Marshall based this out-of-the-ordinary Passover tale on a true event that took place on her own farm, weaving in details about sheep farming and infusing it with the warmth shared by a loving family. Readers will root for Miriam and her Passover lamb!

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The Passover Guest

Susan Kusel

Sydney Taylor Award Winner

Muriel assumes her family is too poor to hold a Passover Seder this year-- but an act of kindness and a mysterious magician change everything.


It's the Spring of 1933 in Washington D.C., and the Great Depression is hitting young Muriel's family hard. Her father has lost his job, and her family barely has enough food most days, let alone for a Passover Seder. They don't even have any wine to leave out for the prophet Elijah's ceremonial cup.

With no feast to rush home to, Muriel wanders by the Lincoln Memorial, where she encounters a mysterious magician in whose hands juggled eggs become lit candles. After she makes a kind gesture, he encourages her to run home for her Seder, and when she does, she encounters a holiday miracle, a bountiful feast of brisket, soup, and matzah.

But who was this mysterious benefactor? When Muriel sees Elijah's ceremonial cup is empty, she has a good idea.

This fresh retelling of the classic I.L. Peretz story, best known through Uri Shulevitz's 1973 adaptation The Magician, has been sumptuously illustrated by noted graphic novelist Sean Rubin, who based his art on photographs of D.C. in the 1930s. An author note with information about the holiday is included.

An Association of Jewish Libraries Spring Holiday Highlight
A CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
A Booklist Editors' Choice
A CCBC Choice
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the Year

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The Longest Night

Laurel Snyder

Here's a picture book for all Jewish families to read while celebrating Passover. Unlike other Passover picture books that focus on the contemporary celebration of the holiday, or are children's haggadahs, this gorgeous picture book in verse follows the actual story of the Exodus. Told through the eyes of a young slave girl, author Laurel Snyder and illustrator Catia Chien skillfully and gently depict the story of Pharoah, Moses, the 10 plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea in a remarkably accessible way.

"Evocative and beautiful... flawlessly evokes the spirit of the Old Testament story," raves Publishers Weekly in a starred review. This dramatic adventure, set over 3,500 years ago, of a family that endures hardships and ultimately finds freedom is the perfect tool to help young children make sense of the origins of the Passover traditions.

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Pippa's Passover Plate

Vivian Kirkfield

Sundown is near, and it's almost time for the Seder to begin-- but where is Pippa's special Passover plate?

Pippa the Mouse has been working hard all day-- cleaning her house, setting the table, cooking the meal. Everything looks great-- but her special Seder plate is missing!

Searching through her tiny house turns up nothing, so Pippa ventures out to ask her neighbors if they can help. Bravely, she asks the other animals for help, but the snake, owl, and cat haven't seen her plate, either. But it's almost time for the Seder to begin, so she keeps looking-- and when she finds it, she invites all the other animals home to join her celebration.

A charming story with a happy ending, Pippa's Passover Plate pairs simple, rhyming text with bright paintings by Jill Weber, illustrator of The Story of Passover and The Story of Esther. In bravely facing her animal neighbors, this adorable little mouse finds not only her missing Seder plate-- but new friends.

Filled with rhymes and repetition, this is a perfect title to share and read aloud, just in time for your own Passover festivities.

A final spread with Pippa and her guests getting ready to hide the matzo and celebrate also shows the Passover plate with its six essential symbolic items: zeroah (a roasted bone), beitzah,(an egg), maror and charoset (bitter herbs), chazeret (mortar or paste), and karpas (a spring vegetable).

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Passover

Harriet Ziefert

The National Jewish Book Award finalists for Hanukkah Haiku return with Passover: Celebrating Now, Remembering Then, a celebration of Passover's past and present, its meanings, its history, and its traditions. Karla Gudeon's folk-inspired artwork serves as a gorgeous backdrop for this fresh look at Passover. Harriet Ziefert seamlessly weaves elements of a contemporary seder with the biblical stories from which the rituals evolved. An ideal gift for Passover gatherings, this inspired book embraces family, freedom, and remembrance.

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More Than Enough

April Halprin Wayland

A family's Passover celebration is equal parts warmth and charm in this cozy picture book, with the traditional seder song "Dayenu" as the grateful refrain.

In this story told in spare, lyrical prose, a Jewish family prepares for their Passover seder, visiting the farmer's market for walnuts, lilacs, and honey (and adopting a kitten along the way ), then chopping apples for the charoset, and getting dressed up before walking to Nana's house. The refrain throughout is "Dayenu"--a mind-set of thankfulness, a reminder to be aware of the blessings in each moment. At Nana's, there's matzo ball soup, chicken, coconut macaroons, and of course, the hidden afikomen. After opening the door for Elijah and singing the verses of "Chad Gadya,"Nana tucks the children in for a special Passover sleepover.

This warm, affectionate story embraces Passover in the spirit of dayenu, and offers a comprehensive glossary--it's a perfect read for the entire family in anticipation and celebration of the holiday.

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Is it Passover Yet?

Chris Barash

It's time to clean the house, set out our best dishes, and fill our homes with food and family to celebrate the joyous holiday of Passover! In this sweet story, join one family as they gather with loved ones to share the joy of togetherness and freedom that Passover brings.

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And Then Another Sheep Turned Up

Laura Gehl

Mama set another place.
Papa found an extra seat.
Hannah squeezed to make more space,
Thrilled to have a guest to greet.

Uh-oh! As the sheep family Passover seder begins, more and more guests show up!

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A Sweet Passover

Lesléa Newman

In this charming and humorous story, Miriam discovers?with the help of her family and a little matzah bread?the true meaning and importance of Passover. Miriam loves spending time with her family during Passover, and all week long she is happy to eat lots of matzah. But when she wakes up on the last day of the holiday, she is sick of matzah and refuses to eat it ever again. Then Grandpa makes his special matzah brei for the whole family, and Miriam learns there's more to Passover than just the matzah.

Award-winning illustrator David Slonim brings to life this story by celebrated author Lesléa Newman. The book includes a recipe for matzah brei, a brief summary of the Passover holiday, and a glossary of terms.

Praise for A Sweet Passover ?Deliciously traditional.” ?Kirkus Reviews

Awards
Sydney Taylor Book Award - Notable book, Younger Readers Category, 2013

 

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A Place for Elijah

Kelly Easton-Ruben

As Sarah's family prepares for Passover, Sarah makes sure to save a chair at the table for the prophet Elijah who is said to visit every seder. But when the electricity goes out in the buildings across the street and the neighbors start arriving at Sarah's apartment, her parents invite each visitor to join the seder. Sarah adds another place setting for Elijah, and then another, but soon the table is full with people from her neighborhood and there are no more chairs to spare! How can Sarah honor the Passover tradition of saving a place for Elijah?

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A Dreidel in Time

Marcia Berneger

Devorah and Benjamin are excited to open their Hanukkah present from Bubbe and Zayde, which turns out to be an ugly old dreidel. It's a big disappointment--until the dreidel transports them out of modern Los Angeles to join the ancient Maccabees! Once they convince a suspicious Judah Maccabee and their new friends that they've arrived to help, they use what they know about the Hanukkah story from Hebrew school to aid the Maccabees in their battle against Antiochus. The kids know that the miracle of Hanukkah relies on finding the special oil for the Temple menorah, but where can it be?

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