Alligator Seder

February 15, 2020
Alligator family and friends gather for a Passover Seder. In the Florida Everglades, three alligators, likely a mother and a father-and-son duo who both wear kippot, prepare for the holiday meal by laying out a Seder plate, hunting for chametz, and putting the gefilte fish on the table. A trio of "gator guests" arrive, two adult gators with a toddler in tow, bearing wine. The celebration continues with the lighting of the candles, the blessing of the wine, the four questions, the telling of the Passover story, eating matzah, and the hunt for the afikomen. "Gator" conveniently makes a pleasant sonic echo with "Seder," helping to propel the quatrains along: "It's time for The Four Questions, / asked by Baby Gator. / Then comes the Passover story, / as at every family seder." The gators are a happy bunch with expressive eyes and perpetual if toothy grins in Elissambura's jewel-toned images dominated by blues and greens. Just enough Seder traditions are presented for a toddler audience, but few details of the Passover story are described. Compositions are busy and frequently presented in separate verso and recto layouts; combined with the lack of contrast, these design choices skew the audience somewhat older. A cheerful introduction to the holiday for youngsters, both reptile and human. (Board book. 3-4)

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