MY FAMILY HAGGADAH

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.