What Am I? Passover

February 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 2-A series of Passover symbols is presented in guessing-game format. For example: "I burn bright just before sunset at the beginning of the Seder. What am I? What could I be?" Lifting a large flap reveals the answer: "I am a holiday candle. That's me!" The same pattern and rhyme accompany each one, from the charoset to the matzah to the door that opens for the prophet Elijah. The book does not provide enough context to serve as an introduction to the holiday, but for children familiar with it, the riddles will be easy to guess. Male characters wear traditional head coverings, but the style of dress indicates that they are not Orthodox Jews. The digital cartoon illustrations pop with bright colors and sharp lines. The entertainingly interactive format will engage kids, and the wide coverage of symbols will please adults. A solid choice for Judaic collections and an additional one for public libraries.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2012
Preschool-G Like other appealing My Look and See Holiday Book titles, this colorful picture book asks questions of its audience and reveals the answers under a lift-the-flap feature on every right-hand page. This volume introduces elements of Passover and, particularly, traditional foods and practices connected with the Seder. The simple, digital illustrations show happy family members in an uncluttered setting as they prepare for the Seder and celebrate together. Each double-page spread highlights one element with a riddlelike, first-person description such as I am a flat bread. I taste good spread with charoset. What am I? What could I be? Lifting the large flap will reveal the answer in words and pictures. Thick, glossy, and sturdy, the pages will withstand plenty of active use. Parents and grandparents will enjoy sharing this playful picture book with young children before Passover.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)