Sammy Spider's First Passover [Paperback]

Sylvia A. Rouss (Author), Katherine Janus Kahn (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Sammy wants to help Josh find the afikomen but his mother reminds him, "{Spiders don't celebrate Passover. Spiders spin webs. His first attempt yields some surprising results.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this seasonal follow-up to Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah, the eager arachnid's mother teaches him to make a web when theirs is laid waste by a "monster"?a broom being used to ready the Shapiros' home for Passover. Though Sammy becomes fascinated by his mother's explanations of the holiday traditions, he is repeatedly told, "Spiders don't celebrate Passover. Spiders spin webs." Following instructions, Sammy completes a new web?and participates in the Shapiro family observance after all. Using cut-paper artwork made festive with cheery patterns, Kahn depicts a contemporary human family (complete with kitty), and a mother-son spider duo reminiscent of Eric Carle's creations. Though Rouss's text is lively and informative, her attempts to blend Passover basics with a rudimentary lesson on shapes (the first page terms this "a book of shapes") become somewhat jumbled and ultimately water down both aspects of the story. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kar-Ben Pub; First Edition edition (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929371828
• ISBN-13: 978-0929371825
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #438,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Judaism
  • #41 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Jewish
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Fiction > Jewish

More About the Author

Sylvia Rouss is the award-winning author and early childhood educator who created the popular Sammy Spider and The Littlest books.


Even with her success as an author, Sylvia has not given up what she loves most, teaching. She is currently a preschool teacher in Los Angeles, and says that she "is inspired by the children in my classroom".


Sylvia also received awards as an educator and she conducts seminars for parents and teachers.


Sylvia is a featured author and lecturer at book fairs throughout the United States and Israel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book for young children about Passover, April 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sammy Spider's First Passover (Paperback)

This book is very good for young children of all ages. It teaches the children in a fun way why we celebrate Passover and the history about it.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute, March 29, 2002

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sammy Spider's First Passover (Paperback)

Sammy Spider was fast asleep in his family web up on the Shapiro's ceiling. A warm spring sun shown through the window, and suddenly a loud noise wakened him.

Mr. Shapiro was dusting the ceiling with a broom. Sammy's mother explained that each spring, when the Shapiro family cleaned for Passover, the Spiders made a new web. As his mother told him how to spin a web, Sammy was distracted by the squares on the table below.

"That's called matzah." Mrs. Spider explained that the Shapiros would eat it at their special meal, called a seder, which also featured a big platter with a roasted egg, bone, parsley, charoset and bitter herbs to help them celebrate. Sammy watched Mr. Shapiro hide the afikomen. After the meal, his son Josh would have try to find it to earn a prize.

Sammy was simply not interested in making a web. He listened to Josh ask the Four Questions--why was this night different from all other nights? When Josh hunted for the Afikomen, he also found a special present from Sammy Spider. But that's a secret also hidden--between the covers of this cute book.

This book is a special Pessach delight for the three-and-under set. Alyssa A. Lappen

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very sweet book., November 16, 2009

By 

Agatha Christie (Greensboro, NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sammy Spider's First Passover (Paperback)

I got this book for my son soon after he turned 2. He absolutely loved it! The book kept him interested and very engaged. I would recommend this book to others as a great Passover 101 book for little ones.