From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2?In a feminist variation on the many stories told about Passover, Miriam, Moses's older sister, is the heroine. It is she who watches over Moses in the bulrushes, and it is she who tells the Egyptian princess who finds him that Jocheved, Moses's mother, should be his nursemaid. Years later, when the Israelites are wandering in the desert, Miriam leads the women in dance, and it is in her honor that God creates a well of spring water. This story is told as a modern-day family gathers to celebrate Passover. Miriam, the daughter, hears about her namesake and receives a gift of a goblet in honor of the prophet to place next to all the other ritual objects on the table. Bright watercolor paintings lend drama to the story. The text is framed on a background resembling papyrus. An author's note provides background on the origin of the story while the back cover contains music and lyrics for Miriam's Song, written by Debbie Friedman. Families and libraries in search of stories about female Biblical heroines will enjoy sharing this story.?Susan Pine, New York Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 2^-4, younger for reading aloud. Before the seder begins, Miriam Pinsky's mother tells her children the story of Passover and of Miriam's namesake. Looking back to when the Jews were slaves in Egypt, she talks about six-year-old Miriam's foretelling the birth of her brother Moses, "who will set our people free," and about the plagues and the Israelites' escape, about Miriam's leading her people in song to celebrate freedom, and about the well of clear spring water that God created in Miriam's honor. After the story ends, Miriam is given a crystal goblet to be filled with water during the seder to celebrate the prophet. The text and the lush double-spread watercolors, which are painted to reflect a child's perspective, are framed on a papyrus background. Each illustration bursts with movement, immersing readers and pre-readers alike in the sequence and drama of the story. Based on the Old Testament, Jewish commentary, legend, and tradition (all cited in the author's notes), this book will be magnificent for sharing as well as for teaching about holiday history. Music and lyrics from "Miriam's Song," written by Debbie Friedman, appear on the back of the jacket.
Karen Simonetti
