The Story of Passover

February 17, 2014
Hewing closely to the magid (“the telling”) of the Passover story, Adler (who previously teamed up with Weber for The Story of Hanukkah) begins with Jacob’s arrival in Egypt and ends with the Israelites’ jubilant celebration on banks of the Red Sea. There’s a lovely counterpoint between his just-the-facts storytelling (“Should I get you someone to help you with the baby?” Miriam asks Pharaoh’s daughter. “Yes,” she replies) and Weber’s often poignant acrylic artwork, which draws on the exuberant palette and stylized, composite perspective of ancient Egyptian painting. In one of many impressive spreads, the fourth and fifth plague are combined (“Animals ran wild. The Egyptians’ cattle became terribly sick and died”) into a kind of “Peaceable Kingdom” gone off the rails, mixing dead cows with a menagerie of creatures in various states of gleeful rapaciousness. Ages 4–8.

March 1, 2014
This version of the Passover story is designed for Jewish families and aspiring zoologists. The Red Sea is filled with snakes. When Moses parts the waters, long, striped serpents splash out of the sea, along with fish of every color: tiny purple ones and enormous red ones and a handful that are bright green. There are animals on almost every page of this book. Children who aren't familiar with the story of Exodus might confuse the book for a bestiary as they flip through. The gigantic black cat of Egypt may even give them pause. When the plague of wild beasts shows up about halfway through the story, it's marvelous to watch. There are turtles and monkeys and butterflies and animals that are nearly impossible to identify. Readers might even be forgiven for skipping past the text and just pointing to their favorite creatures from the zoo. That text is a straightforward retelling of the Passover story, and it's entirely serviceable. If families need an introduction to Moses and Pharaoh, this book will certainly meet their needs, but Adler's version doesn't add much color or personality to the human characters, in contrast to Weber's energetic paintings of the animals. This book will help families get ready for Passover, but they may need to take a trip to the zoo a day or two later. (Picture book. 4-8)

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April 1, 2014

Gr 1-3-Similar in format and scope to Adler and Weber's The Story of Hanukkah (Holiday House, 2011), this simple yet dramatic story retells the Children of Israel's exodus from slavery in Egypt. Nothing is whitewashed in the text or the illustrations; slaves are beaten and killed, babies are drowned in the river, Moses attacks and kills a slave master, the Angel of Death visits the Egyptians, and Pharaoh's army is swallowed by the sea. However, readers already familiar with this narrative will appreciate the straightforward honesty and will relish the detailed, expressive, acrylic illustrations. An author's note, providing more information about the traditions and customs of the holiday, is appended. A great read-aloud for the Passover seder, this is a welcome addition to holiday book shelves.-Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2014
Preschool-G Veteran writer about all things Jewish (among many other subjects), Adler tells a simplified version of the Exodus story. He begins with Jacob and the children of Israel, who began to overpopulate Egypt, leading the pharaoh to enslave them and eventually to kill newborn Hebrew boys. Baby Moses is saved and raised by the pharaoh's daughter, but when he kills an Egyptian for beating a slave, he is forced to flee. The rest of the story covers how Moses, directed by God, frees the Hebrews. There's no getting around the fact that the well-known story, with its plagues and deaths, is quite gruesome in places. The text recounts details rather than dwells on them, but this might upset younger members of the intended audience who are not already familiar with the Bible story. Weber's acrylic paintings, which recall hieroglyphic images, have a young feel, but they don't shy away from the drama. A good choice for children who are attending Passover seders and want to know more. An author's note explains what happens at a seder.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)