The Kids' Catalog of Passover: A Worldwide Celebration of Stories, Songs, Customs, Crafts, Food, and Fun (Paperback)

~ (Author), Cherie Karo Schwartz (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 5-Truly a mixed bag, this book contains songs, stories, riddles, recipes, crafts, and other activities, some of which are quite unusual or innovative. Rush and Schwartz include information about the holiday's history and customs around the world and a well-done version of the Exodus story. Unfortunately, the folktales are uneven; some are quite interesting and well written, while others are precious or repetitive. The intended audience for the book is unclear. Though it is written in second person, as if speaking to a child, youngsters are unlikely to read the dense, small type. The crafts, ranging from simple paper-bag plague puppets to a sewn afikoman bag or an illuminated page of a Haggadah, will appeal to varying age groups. The explanations of the holiday are clear, but the writing gets redundant and trite at times. The black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout give the book a patchwork effect. They include photos, which are clear, if obviously posed, and a mix of children's and adults' art of varying quality. An extensive bibliography is appended. On the whole, the book comes across as a homemade effort. However, libraries serving large Jewish communities with high demand for Passover activity and recipe books may want to consider it as an additional purchase.
Amy Lilien-Harper, Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This comprehensive guide to Passover teaches, entertains and celebrates through stories, customs, recipes, games, crafts and songs. The black-and-white photographs and illustrations (drawn by professionals and children) depict new and traditional ways to celebrate Passover with the family, synagogue and community. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Recommended winner.

Reviewed by Parents' Choice® 2000 -- From Parents' Choice

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Publication Society of America (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827606877
• ISBN-13: 978-0827606876
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,455,551 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 cups, 4 kids, 4 questions, 4 parts*4 chapters but 5 stars, March 7, 2001

By	Larry Mark "editor of MyJewishBooks.com" (nyc) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Passover is focused on kids and telling the story. Passover has a lot of fours. There are four cups, four sons/children, and four questions, so therefore the book has four PARTS and four CHAPTERS in each PART. Part One is the TELLING (haGaddah) of The Story; Part Two is Preparing for the Seder; Part Three is At The Seder; and Part Four is Concluding The Seder. Each chapter in the Parts is filled with stories, games, explanations, songs, insights, recipes, and craft projects. For example, in Chapter One, the Exodus story is introduced to the reader with stories, songs (an Exodus rap), midrash stories, a riddle, a game ("I am packing for the Exodus, I am taking an Apple, Bitter Herbs, C..., D..."), and a craft project (make a mural). The Chapter for the plagues tells how to make a plague puppet. In the Chapter on Miriam and the Hebrew Women, the reader can learn to make a tambourine. In Chapter 7, On The Seder plate, you learn about maror and betzah customs from around the world, learn to make charoses, or a charoset pyramid, or play a "nut" game. Plus there is a recipe for red yemenite eggs. Chapter 8 on Matzah contains matzah customs, recipes, riddles, and folkstories. In Chapter 9, learn to make a "Four Questions" kippah to wear. In Chapter 10, on Dayenu, you can learn to add new stanzas for your own updated Dayenu, or make a micrography, or perform an interesting custom with scallions. In Capter 14, learn about modern Exoduses. And in Chapter 16, learn classic and new songs from Adir Hu, Ehad Mi Yodei-a, QUEN SUPIESE, Had Gadya, and Lo Yisa Goy. A must for any household with kids.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great addition to your Pesach library, April 2, 2000

By	Michael Weiss (Commerce Twp., MI) - See all my reviews

This book is wonderful -- full of useful information for kids and adults alike. Both novices and know-it-alls will find something new here. We plan to incorporate some of this material into our family seders this year.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A best buy for the Pesach kid's table!, April 15, 2000

By A Customer

I've bought the other kids' catalogs from JPS but this one is the most useful yet! I purchased one for my children and for the families of their friends who are invited to Pesach dinner. It has lots of great activities and learning tidbits perfect for active children.