Book Description

This unique Haggadah designed especially for young people is a delightful asset to any seder table-at home, in religious schools or at community centers. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Children love it
Our 11 and 6 year old grandchildren love this Haggadah. They are able to follow the order of the Seder and the Passover story. A note for the reviewer who stated "Well it does not mention Moses at all." In fact, Moses is not mentioned in any traditional Haggadah. This is deliberate because the Jewish people are discouraged from treating Moses as a diety.

Wonderful Haggadah for elementary school age kids
Our children are 4, 6, and 10. This Haggadah is terrific for all of them. It is beautifully illustrated. It has all of the traditional elements of a seder presented in a way that kids can understand, and also will enable you to get through the seder on a brief enough timeline to get the point across within a child's attention span. The book is entirely in English, but also shows Hebrew words for things in the seder and Hebrew blessings.

Best Haggadah for young children
We fell in love with this Haggadah. Our three year old was very interested in hearing the story in terms she could understand, the text refers to slavery in terms of not being able to go to movies, school, etc. We added playgroups, no treats, and so on. She loved the illustrations and was able to stay interested throughout the book. We look forward to using it this year for our seder. I beleive young children will be able to stay interested in this haggadah much longer than a traditional one. I don't think it is realistic to expect children three to five to be able to sit for an hour of anything. This book should make our evening flow nicely and fun for everyone. The text is not so simplistic that Parents would not enjoy it as much as the children.

Not for young kids
We used this haggadah a couple years ago when our kids were five and three years old. It was much too complicated and wordy for children this age. All the younger children were bouncing off the walls only half way through the seder. However, it was beautifully illustrated!

Good but not great
Why is this haggadah different from all others? Well it does not mention Moses at all. I don't like their version of the Exodus story. It is very brief, dry and male-centered. In fact there are few or no mentions of women in this haggadah. The illustrations are great and there are many songs but the tone is somehow uninspiring. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

A first prayer boo for young children with 21 traditional Jewish prayers in simple Hebrew, English translation, and tranliteration.Blessings for a new day, the bounty of our food, Sabbath and holiday rituals, life and health, comfort and forgiveness.With lyrical watercolors.National Jewish Book Awards Honor Book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of our favorites!
As the foreward of this book says, daily Jewish prayers instill values in children. When we say a prayer before we eat, children understand that it's important to be thankful for what we have, including food on the table. When we pray before going to sleep for our safety, kids learn to be thankful for their lives. The bottom line: we love this book. It has prayers for greeting the new day, and bedtime prayers. When our beloved pet cat passed away this week, we opened the book to the prayer for mourners. By coincidence, the page included an illustration of an elderly woman with a cat! The words and illustrations are right on target for children, and parents will appreciate it, too. I highly recommend this book, and plan to buy it as baby gifts for family and friends. ... Read more

Book Description

What does it mean to become a Jewish woman?

Did you ever think that Judaism had any advice on how to deal with pressure from your friends? Arguing with your parents? Feeling stressed out? Well, this book shows you that Judaism can help you deal with all these things—and a whole lot more.

The JGirl’s Guide is a first-of-its-kind book of practical, real-world advice using Judaism as a compass for the journey through adolescence. A fun survival guide for coming of age, it explores the wisdom and experiences of rabbis, athletes, writers, scholars, musicians, and great Jewish thinkers, as well as lots of girls just like you—girls who share your worries and concerns, and your joys. Here’s a place to turn to for honest, helpful discussion about the things that really matter to you:

• Friendship • Eating • Health• Sexuality • Getting involved• Dealing with authority • Coping with stress • Self-esteem • Communication • Jewish Identity

Now’s the time when you are thinking: Who am I? What do I believe in? Who will I become? The JGirl’s Guide provides Jewish writings, traditions, and advice that can help. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Awesome is an understatement ! ! !
Thanks to the JGirl's guide, I finally understand my daughter and wife and all that touchy-feely shechina stuff........you can't go wrong with this book, and I mean this whether or not you are starting from scratch or studying talmud with the Baal Shem Tov !

Well written, Enjoyable and Easy reading
My daughter asked me to get this for her after she heard so much about it in school from her friends.I ended up reading it myself right after she finished it.We both enjoyed it immensely and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.It was insightful and has even helped me better relate to my daughter during this changing time in her life.

Enjoy!

Every Jewish Girl should have this book!
The JGirl's Guide is an invaluable book for young girls.If you would like your friend, daughter, student, cousin.... to getmuch more out of their bat-mitzvah, and so much more out of being a Jewish teenager - struggling with identity, as well as common teen issues such as food and peer pressure.What a wonderful idea to finally come out with something fun and interesting in an era where we sometimes need to be reminded that even though life can be a party, we must not forget how meaningful it is- and when we are reminded and taught, then it because that much more fun!

This book is an excellent coming-of-age guide
JGirls Guide is a fabulous blend of Jewish wisdom and frank discussions on modern issues facing all Jewish girls/women. The authors use Jewish stories, customs and passages from holy texts and really apply them to confront modern problems such as body image, self-esteem, tikkun olam and sexuality. Each chapter also includes suggestions for reflection and exercises to help the reader engage with the topic. This is an invaluable guide for all Jewish girls and women.

I really liked it!
I just got the book a few weeks ago as a gift.It was so good that I read it within 2 weeks.I wish I had it last year, before my bat mitzvah. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nominated for a 1998 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War is Anita Lobel's gripping memoir of surviving the Holocaust. A Caldecott-winning illustrator of such delightful picture books as OnMarket Street, it is difficult to believe Lobel endured the horrific childhood she did. From age 5 to age 10, Lobel spent what are supposed to be carefree years hiding from the Nazis, protecting her younger brother, being captured and marched from camp to camp, and surviving completely dehumanizing conditions. A terrifying story by any measure, Lobel's memoir is all the more haunting as told from the first-person, child's-eye view. Her girlhood voice tells it like it is, without irony or even complete understanding, but with matter-of-fact honesty and astonishing attention to detail. She carves vivid, enduring images into readers' minds. On hiding in the attic of the ghetto: "We were always told to be very quiet. The whispers of the trapped grown-ups sounded like the noise of insects rubbing their legs together." On being discovered while hiding in a convent: "They lined us up facing the wall. I looked at the dark red bricks in front of me and waited for the shots. When the shouting continued and the shots didn't come, I noticed my breath hanging in thin puffs in the air." On trying not to draw the attention of the Nazis: "I wanted to shrink away. To fold into a small invisible thing that had no detectable smell. No breath. No flesh. No sound."

It is a miracle that Lobel and her brother survived on their own in this world that any adult would find unbearable. Indeed, and appropriately, there are no pretty pictures here, and adults choosing to share this story with younger readers should make themselves readily available for explanations and comforting words. (The camps are full of excrement and death, all faithfully recorded in direct, unsparing language.) But this is a story that must be told, from the shocking beginning when a young girl watches the Nazis march into Krakow, to the final words of Lobel's epilogue: "My life has been good. I want more." (Ages 10 to 16)--Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A Child's View of the Holocaust
When Anita Lobel wrote this memoir, she did not try to write in a sopisticated "literary" style. She didn't try to "doctor" the events with years of hindsight and thinking. Instead, she wrote "No Pretty Pictures" with the clarity and simplicity and paradoxical depth of a child's mind. Anita's story begins in Krakow, Poland, where she is born into a middle class home and the future looks to be filled with ease, pleasure, and a good education. However, the Nazis change all that. With their invasion of the city and eventually, all of Poland, Anita and her brother must flee. At first they manange to escape to the Polish countryside with their nanny, and when that fails, they go to the ghetto with Anita's mother. But the inevitable finally happens, and Anita and her brother find themselves confronted with the ultimate evil...a concentration camp. "No Pretty Pictures" doesn't end there, and goes even further to chronicle the challenges and differences of the war's aftermath. This book is a valuable addition to a Holocaust collection-memoirs really are the best books written about a subject, and Anita's is wonderful. The thing that makes this one stand out from the others is the way experiences are captured with a child's sense of fear and safety, comfort and pain, and good and evil.

The author's memoir of growing up during World War 2.
This book was very sad, but it is a book that needs to be read. The author, Anita Lobel, was barely five when the Nazis invaded her home in Poland. As a young Jewish girl, she grew up persecuted. As the Nazis created more regulations, Anita and her little brother went into hiding, posing as the children of their Catholic nanny. Yet they were caught and sent to a concentration camp. All the odds were against them, yet the two children - just ten and eight years old - managed to survive three concentrations camps and a forced march. Anita grew up to illustrate children's books. One would never guess she had such a horrifying childhood - until reading this book.

No Pretty Pictures, A child At War By Cassandra
No Pretty Pictures, A Child At War

No Pretty Pictures is about a young girl who has to find her way back to her religion while she tries to understand the meaning of life. She starts out as a normal girl but with one difference. She was a Jew at a wrong time. Her name is Hannah. She has a little brother, a mom, dad, and a nanny. (The nanny is Christian.) Her dad left her and her family when she was five to go and fight in Russia; that is when things go wrong.
People know about the holocaust but few of us have lived through it. Well, this story is about a girl that does. When she was five years old she had to leave to go to a concentration camp. She leaves with her brother, and soon realizes that her life will never be the same. Her mom has papers that say she is a Christian so she doesn't have to go to the camp, but Hannah and her brother don't.
She goes through many hard times, and wonders if she will ever see her parents again. She was in the camps and away from her family for about six years, but she was away from her father the longest. Her father left and was not heard of until six years later when Hannah was in the hospital because she and her brother were diagnosed with tuberculosis. She was put in a hospital for more than three years but she was able to go to a real city. There, she learned the true meaning of life with a little surprise.
I really enjoyed this book. Many books have been written about World War II, but I feel like this one gives a better understanding about what really happened during the holocaust. I think that this book did have its strengths and it weaknesses. One strength is that it gave a good look at what happens to the kids that were in the holocaust, let alone everyone else. It made me feel like I was actually in the book, and it gave great detail about what happened to them and how they felt about the Nazis. One weakness was that it didn't give a clear description about how her family was reacting to the holocaust. Also, her dad left, but then he shows up in the end, but we don't really know what happened to him.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes learning about a new religion, and for someone who enjoys getting into a good book. I would not recommend this book to someone who was younger than nine because it is a harder book to read. I had many "favorite" parts in the book. Most of my favorite parts were the action parts. Many times they would talk about how the Nazis would treat Jews, and it made me feel like I was in the book, and I was one of the Jews who were being tortured.
This book made me think of a lot of questions. Some of them were, how would she react to the new change? How does her mom feel about her family being in the camps, and not her? Did Hannah ever lose hope? How would her brother feel about the experience? And to my surprise, all of them were answered.
I would definitely read this book again because it was so good, and I would still be surprised at some parts. I think this is the best book I have ever read about the holocaust. I hope that the author will try to make a book as good as this one once again.

A great read!
Summary:
In 1939, when Anita Lobel was five, German soldiers marched into Krakow. Anita's father, the owner of a chocolate factory and a Jew, runs away in the middle of the night. As a child, Anita Lobel spent years hiding from the Nazis and trying to protect her little brother. The two children have to work through assumed identities, a dangerous stay in the Krakow ghetto, hiding in a convent, and much more! They were captured and marched from camp to camp. Finally, in 1945, they were reunited with their parents and they had to learn to live all over again.

My thoughts:
This book touches your heart in a way few books do. Told from a child's point of view, using a very child-like voice, the story leaps out of the pages and into your mind. This book is written by an illustrator of beautiful picture books like Potatoes, Potatoes, and On Market Street. The title, No Pretty Pictures, seems to reflect her drawing career. In one example, when she first was allowed to enter school after the war, she was sent to an art class. There, she was given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and a set of new watercolors. She painted a wonderful blue chair, to the delight of her art teacher and the other students. She hasn't stopped painting since.

One moral that simply explodes out of this book is to never give up. No matter what life throws at you - starvation, imprisonment, hiding, or whatever - you can persevere. Anita overcame all of the obstacles placed in front of her, either by herself or with the help of others, and has created a spectacular life for herself. If she can succeed despite such odds, so can everybody else.

I think children would love to read this book when they are old enough to get all the way through it. At almost 200 pages, it is not a quick book to read. But it is a gripping, page-turning story - one of those kind that you can't put down. I think children will be drawn to the child-like voice of the story, the innocence the author manages to use. Anita Lobel is one of those truly gifted authors that can tell a horrible story about a child, for a child, without sounding condescending or self-pitying.

I give No Pretty Pictures an A-
No Pretty Pictures is probably by far the best book I have ever read. It is filled with true life tragedies and it gave me such a feeling where I was happy to be alive at this day in time and in such a place as America. About 50 years ago, it was a horrible time where in which Anita Lobel was at the wrong place at the wrong time! Her autobiography uses such imagery and imaginative language, it's as if i were in that period of time walking side by side with her! At times it came to a point where she used too much detail to describe certain aspects of her life as a young Jewish and Polish girl. I feel this book should be read by someone who wants to learn a bit about history, someone is lost in their own lives or someone who just wants to read a good book and shed a tear or two. The reason I mostly enjoyed this book so much was because I come from Poland and it gave me a sense of what my people including my grandparetns and other relatives went through! ... Read more

Book Description

This thoroughly engaging introduction to the major Jewish holidays by the creators of The Jewish Childs First Book of Why will delight children ages three to six. Bright and colorful illustrations add fun and excitement to each holiday presentation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Holidays from season to season
This book is an excellent way for me to introduce the holidays throughout the year to my young children. The book sequences the holidays throughout the seasons of the year, so it's also a good tool for teaching about the seasons and when the holidays occur. My four-year old often enjoys this book as a bedtime story, anytime of the year. This is a good, general reference for all the Jewish holidays. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Inspired by the everyday trinkets and treasures in her apartment, a grandmother tells her curious granddaughter stories based on their Russian Jewish heritage. An old tin button box reminds Grandmother about the poor farmer who outwitted a Czar. While cutting up apples for a strudel, Grandmother recalls the tale of a very rich, very greedy merchant who learned a lesson at the table of King Solomon. Choosing among carnations, gladioli, and roses in Moshe’s flower shop makes Grandmother think of a garden of talking--and bickering--flowers.

This collection of 10 traditional Jewish folk tales, first published in 1990, is now gorgeously illustrated by Caldecott Honor Book recipient Anita Lobel (On Market Street). Author Adele Geras, who also penned the critically acclaimed young adult novel Troy, has captured the rhythm and cozy warmth of a loving grandmother’s storytelling. Readers of all ages will love to curl up with the granddaughter for an afternoon of magical, wondrous shared lore. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cooking Up Grandmother's Stories
Every story (each ties to a household object) includes many possibilities for cooking which delights ME (author of RECIPES FOR READING) and encourages young (and formerly young)readers to concoct recipes to amplify and fill out the stories. If every family had a collection of grandmotherly tales like this based on household things, there would be no hope for FootballOnTheTube as a holiday mainstay. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, in early fall, to Shavuot,celebrating the first harvest of the spring and the accepting of the Torah,Dance, Sing, and Remember offers an engaging, colorful introduction tothe moods and meanings of a variety of Jewish holidays. Leslie Kimmelman invitesreaders to honor 11 of these special days by learning what each one is about andhow it is observed. Kimmelman's warm, accessible writing provides enoughbackground information for anyone--Jewish or not--who wants to understand why asukkah (hut) is built in the backyard during Sukkot, or when the shofar (long,twisty horn) is blown, or how to play the dreidel (spinning top) game. OraEitan's unusual and appealing illustrations appear framed in white, andsuperimposed on full spreads of background color and patterns. Perhaps mostintriguing of all is the two-page spread for Yom Hashoah, the sad and seriousday in which Jewish people remember the Holocaust, the Shoah. Grainy gray turnsto a solid black backdrop, with a small silhouette of a bird flying off a cornerof the page. Most of the other illustrations are full of light and color, sothis contrast is especially striking. Incorporating recipes, activities, music,and stories, this lovely picture book provides a window to the idea that "everyholiday is a way of remembering, a way of connecting children to their parentsand grandparents and to their parents and grandparents--all the way backto the very first Jews." (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great guide to Jewish holidays
"Dance, Sing, Remember: A Celebration of Jewish Holidays" is a book that is both enjoyable and educational. Although it is directed towards children, it is a good resource for all ages. Leslie Kimmelman's well-written text is effectively complemented by Ora Eitan's colorful, impressionistic illustrations.

The text covers the major Jewish observances: Rosh Hashahah, Yom Kippur, Yom Hashoah, etc. The name of each observance is given both in Hebrew characters and in English translation or transliteration. The text gives definitions of such relevant terms as shofar, sukkah, and latkes.

There is a lot of fun supplementary material: a recipe for harvest muffins, instructions on how to play the dreidel game, a retelling of the story of Jonah, and more. Eitan's illustrations are excellent: they range from the solemn to the whimsical. Overall, this is a good book for children of all religious and cultural backgrounds.

Entertaining and Informative
I bought this book for my five year old in order to help explain the significance of certain Jewish holidays. He thoroughly enjoyed it and it encouraged lots of great questions. The illustrations are wonderful and I learned a lot too! Highly recommended for any family as a great holiday book and reference book. ... Read more

Book Description

The kids' companion to the award-winning Putting God on the Guest List: How to Claim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah -- Used as an inspiring part of bar/bat mitzvah preparation for parents in hundreds of congregations around the world.

Jewish youngsters and their parents need to turn inward at bar and bat mitzvah time and ask themselves these hard questions: "Why are we doing this? What does it all mean?"

At last, a guide especially for kids, to help them spiritually prepare for their bar/bat mitzvah. Explains the core spiritual values of Judaism to young people in a language they can understand. Questions at the end of each chapter engage kids and let them offer their own thoughts. A special section helps parents and kids find places to perform acts of tzedakah to honor the event. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Emphasizes the spiritual meaning of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs
In the frenzy of preparing for the big day, it can be easy to lose the focus and meaning of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Many kids may wonder "What is this really all about? Why am I doing this?" This inspiring, clearly-written book urges kids to think about the deeper meaning of the ceremony and of being a Jew. The emphasis is on spirituality and being mindful of God's presence everyday. I especially liked the section with suggestions and resources for acts of tzedakah as well as little mitzvahs.

Great companion book for Kids
This version of Putting God on the Guest List is the perfect companion to the adult version. We liked it so much that we started a fund at our synagogue so that every child beginning the bar or bat mitzvah process receives a copy. In an era where the party has become more important than the ritual, this book help focus a child on the religious importance of his coming of age. A wonderful read. ... Read more

Book Description

Published in association with The Jewish Museum

Coinciding with the 350th anniversary of the first recorded Jewish settlement in North America, this lavishly illustrated introduction to Jewish life is a compilation of compelling first-person reports and well-documented facts. Brimming with photographs, paintings, memorabilia, and other artifacts from the renowned Jewish Museum and other sources, and with text by award-winning author Susan Rubin, this book provides readers with a wide range of examples of North American Jewish life all across the U.S. and Canada. This book continues the growing library of Abrams' high-quality, award-winning, and accessible Judaic-content books. AUTHOR BIO: Susan Goldman Rubin is the author of many acclaimed books for children on creative figures, among them Degas, Van Gogh, Gaugin, and Steven Spielberg. Her biography of Margaret Bourke-White was named ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Smithsonian Notable Book for Children. She lives in Malibu, California. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Grandfather telling stories...
To enjoy listening to stories told by grandfather, you don't necessarily have to be a child! As a matter of fact, it is a life virtue to enjoy these stories told by Isaac Bashevis Singer, regardless of age. They are set in the now vanished Hassidic community of pre-II World War, but their moral content transcends time and space, and although they are soaked in Jewishness they equally appeal to the open-minded reader. Beware that out of the seventeen tales in this editon, 14 are included in "My Father's Court," by the same author. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the history, faith, and culture that have shaped the modern Jewish world. With over 50 million copies sold in 88 countries and in 36 languages, Eyewitness Books are truly the ultimate visual information encyclopedias for the 21st Century. Carrying on the tradition of integrating words and pictures, these three new titles in the Eyewitness series are timely editions to any library. ... Read more

Book Description

Chapter by chapter description of each story in the Book of Exodus (Shemot), with full color illustrations. A separate section for parents and teachers provides additional Rabbinic tales to help explain the text. A final section offers an illustrated Children's Haggadah to be used at the Passover Seder Table. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Jewish Children's Bible: Genesis
My kids (5-1/2 and 8-1/2) love this book. We are in a rural area with not many other Jewish children to share experiences with. This book is very readable, close enough to Book I, yet a little literary license to keep it entertaining and flowing for youngsters. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Become an Instant Torah Scholar with this Series!
You can be an instant Torah scholar with this fantastic commentary series! Each chapter is laid out as follows: 1. a very brief summary of the parsha; 2. a more in depth overview of the parsha; 3. a synopsis of commentary from the world's most famous Torah scholars, both ancient and modern; 4. major themes of the parsha; 5. compelling questions at the end of the chapter regarding the parsha and commentary.
The beauty and the power of this series is that it gives you the context; i.e., the prism, through which the parsha has been analyzed through the exgesis of famous scholars, and in doing so, it gives you ground on which to develop your own exgesis. Furthermore, with the summaries, written in plain English, in both an extremely short form and then in a more detailed form, you will be well suited for a quick discussion at the Shabbos table or a more in depth discussion from the bimah. You'll be able to quote the most famous and respected scholars; you'll be instantly privy to the insights that yeshiva students probably spend hours trying to unearth. It's a great series for all ages and for all levels of observance. Kol HaKavod to the author! Well done!

Accessible and thought-provoking
My wife and I recently decided we'd like to give our young children a more explicit introduction to moral values and figured that the torah would be an excellent vehicle (plus it would introduce the kids to torah). The problem was that neither my wife nore I is by any means a torah scholar - I'm a reform Jew and hadn't really done any bible study since hebrew school many, many years ago. I don't know enough to interpret the biblical texts myself and the full Talmud is far more than I was looking for. So, I went looking, in vain I feared, for a volume that would provide an accessible introduction to the bible.

Well, I'm happy to report that Fields' book met and exceeded my requirements. Each chapter contains a summary of the torah portion, an identification of key themes, summaries of select classical and modern commentary and a list of thought-provoking questions - perhaps 5-7 pages in all per parsha.

I've only had the book for a couple of weeks but already feel I've gotten my money's worth. I can in a brief time review the week's torah reading and then discuss it with my kids (who are too young to read the book themselves). They're learning and I am too.

Serious scholars may find this "Cliff's Notes" approach too superficial, but for a beginner like me, it's just right.

Easy to use Commentary
This is one of the best Torah Commentaries for use by people who do not have access to the original Hebrew. It includes a summary of each weekly reading and in depth examination of a few important themes using traditional and modern commentaries. I recommend this book for the beginner and intermediate student to gain access to methods of commentary and the advanced student who wants ideas and new ways of looking at the text. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Lots of good ideas for involving children, but...
We used this Haggadah for a few years when our children were preschool-age, with mixed success. I liked the extensive suggestions for involving young children in all aspects of the seder experience. However, we found that the English narration - while lovely - was overly long and didn't hold the kids' attention, especially in the absence of attractive illustrations. It would probably be more suitable for older children. The book reads from left to right and is almost entirely in English, which may be a benefit or a weakness depending on your own personal preference. We ended up supplementing quite a bit from the good ol' Maxwell House version and eventually switched to a somewhat more traditional family-oriented Haggadah.

A Beautiful, Poetic Passover Companion
If you're looking to bring freshness as well as beauty to your seder, buy this book. Ellen Schecter's "Family Haggadah" doesn't replace the traditional Haggadah; it's a companion that helps you -- and your guests -- to see the seder with new eyes. Schecter's telling of the Passover story is so vivid that both children and adults will be caught up in its drama and imagery.

Listen to some of her opening words for the seder:
"The story we tell tonight isn't a fairy tale that happened 'once upon a time.' It's a true story. And as we create our Seder celebration together, we will help it happen tonight to each of us...Tonight, in our home and other homes, in this neighborhood and others, all across the country, in countries all over our planet, families of Jews and their friends are beginning their Seder and lighting their candles. Imagine them joining us at one huge table that stretches across the world; imagine the flames of all our candles, countless as the stars in the sky."

Over the past five years, I've used these words at seders with many adults and children, and I've seen how powerful they are. Adults look up from their Maxwell House Deluxe editions with surprise. Children stop fidgeting. Suddenly, everyone is listening with full attention, then someone immediately asks, "What are you reading from? That's lovely...."

My response always is, "Wait, there's more."

Beyond its gorgeous language, this small Haggadah-companion includes thoughtful suggestions for how to prepare for the holiday, three pages of good ideas for encouraging children's participation, and many lovely (if black-and-white) illustrations by Neil Waldman. But it 's the marvellous words that make it essential. One more example: "Tonight, we tell the story of our Exodus from Egypt to you, our children; someday you will tell it to your children; and someday they will tell it again and again to their children and their children's children...That is our hope: That each of us will be a link in the chain that stretches from God to Moses, to Miriam, to me; that you will become strong links in the chain that stretches from generation to generation, like hands holding hands across the years."

I suggest you buy multiple copies of this book, read it before the seder so you know what's in it, pick out your favorite parts, and then invite your guests to share in reading aloud from it. In doing so, you will enrich your seder many times over.

Immediacy
The first 15 pages of this Haggadah focus on preparations for the Seder, rather than the ceremonial meal itself. Anyone who has never before prepared a Seder will find this section extremely useful, for it offers many suggestions to involve the children even before the holiday begins. Children can help decide, for example, who should lead the meal, or themselves prepare to lead parts of the service. They can also help clean the home of Chametz (unleavened bread), make Charoset and prepare the Seder Plate. (The book even suggests substitutes for vegetarian families.)

Only 36 pages are devoted to the Seder itself, but they are easy enough for families with little or no Hebrew, and for small children to understand. All blessings--Lighting the Candles, Shecheyanu (Thanking God for life, sustenance and reaching this season), the Kiddush (Blessing of Wine), Dipping of Greens, HaMotzie (Blessing the Matzah), and Blessings over the Bitter Herbs and Charoset--are included in Hebrew and English transliterations. So are the Four Questions. Unfortunately, the recitation of the Ten Plagues is in English, with no Hebrew, transliterated or otherwise.

But the book includes Dayenu. In this song, the Jewish people thank God for the miracles that Pessach celebrates--granting our freedom, bringing us forth from Egypt, dividing the Red Sea, feeding us manna, leading us from the desert, giving us Shabbat, leading us to Mount Sinai, giving us Israel, building the Holy Temple.

In addition to Elijah's Cup, this Haggadah also includes Miriam's Cup on the Seder table. This egalitarian addition celebrates the women of the Pessach story--Moses' mother Yocheved, the midwives Shifrah and Puah, Pharaoh's daughter Thermutis, and Miriam, who watched over Moses, put him in the basket and led our song when we emerged from the Sea of Reeds.

Pessach has always been my favorite holiday. This book helps children understand that while Passover celebrates events that happened thousands of years ago, each person must remember them as if he or she was also redeemed from slavery, brought to Mount Sinai, and given the Torah. It infuses the holiday with the immediacy that makes it special. Alyssa A. Lappen

The focus is on kids, and it is successful
The authors created this Haggadah with children and teaching in mind. The colors and style draw you in. It reads from LEFT to RIGHT, not the hebrew right to left. With kids under age 12 in mind, it is filled with read-aloud sections. It opens with a search for the Hametz, and then follows the standard seder. The text is in ENGLISH and the main blessings are in Hebrew script, English translation, and transliterated Hebrew. For the Four questions, it includes a page of music, and for Dayenu, it also includes a page of music. The seder includes a paragraph for Miriam's Cup. It omits the standard Hallel and Grace after Meals. It explains "Next Year in Jerusalem" as a hope to either be in Jerusalem physically, or to be in a world of peace, freedom, and plenty. The book closes with Khad Gadya

Hurray! A Passover Story Children can understand!
When my son was two years old, I sat down to write my own haggadah so that the youngsters could really understand what the holiday is all about. Although I did an admirable job, this is the haggadah I wish I had written! This book is a must for anyone new to the seder experience, and anyone with young children at the seder table. The entire seder is written in easy-to-understand language. The references to God are non-sexist. The illustrations are simple, and beautiful. If you buy only one haggadah, please make it this one. No matter what the ages are of those at your seder table, this haggadah will guide you perfectly and your guests will love you for sharing it with them. ... Read more

Book Description

My Favorite Family Haggadah presents an exciting, thought-provoking 20 to 30 minute service designed especially for children and their families. Through captivating pictures, action, and song, participants shall journey enthusiastically through the inspirational story of Passover. Both young and old alike shall be uplifted by a strong sense of pride in their rich Jewish heritage as they revel in the miraculous, unbroken existence of the Jewish people. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I Don't Agree with other Reviews!
I feel while there are some aspects of this book that are good, such as singing some rap songs...the actual sedar is out of sequence!!!! This meal is called a seder , from a Hebrew root word meaning "order," because there is a specific set of information that must be discussed in a specific order.

In this book, the story is told first, then the four questions are asked. I think the authors could have kept the fun in this but done a better job following the correct order.

Perfect 20-30 minute seder for children/adults of all ages!
Our seder had children starting from 8 months to 7 years and it was fun for all (including the adults!) All our guests commented on the haggadah saying it was the best seder they have been to with their children. I highly recommend this for families with children.. The story of Passover is wonderfully told!

ENRICHING AND FUN!
Passover has always been a favorite holiday of mine. However, my children cannot sit for the hours I used to have to. (I think that's because we've all lightened up a bit.) This hagaddah is just that, a bit lightened, but full of HISTORY! The main thing is it is fun and interactive. My children are sad when it's over and really look forward to the next sedar!

This Haggadah is one-of-a-kind! Family fun with meaning!!!!
This Haggadah provides a creative seder that is fun for all ages! There is original song and abundant interactivity. It will make your Passover seder very memorable. The seder lasts about 30 minutes. It works very well for intermarried couples too! ... Read more