Passover: A Celebration of Freedom

by Bonnie Bader, Joanie Stone (Illustrator)

Learn why and how Jewish people celebrate Passover with this beautifully illustrated Big Golden Book!

Celebrate Passover by reading about how Moses helped lead the Israelites to freedom. In addition to the story of Passover, which includes the Ten Plagues, the Burning Bush, and the Parting of the Red Sea, preschoolers will also learn about the Passover Seder and how Jewish people celebrate today. Filled with colorful illustrations and simple, yet informative text, this Big Golden Book is perfect to share with your family this Passover!

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published January 24, 2023

About the author

Bonnie Bader lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Readersaurus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Big Golden Book, and those of us who were raised on Little Golden Books may feel some nostalgia when first seeing that classic cover style and opening it up. The illustrations are simultaneously old-fashioned looking and modern Disney-esque, with strong appeal for readers who enjoy cartoons. The people depicted are rendered seriously and respectfully, against impressionistic backgrounds that use color to impart mood.

The text begins with the classic ‘why is this night different?’ and continues on to tell the story of Pesach. The highlights of the Israelites in slavery, the saving of Moses, and the horror of the plagues are presented. The story is, by necessity, a scary one, and adults sharing this with littles will want to be prepared to answer questions and offer comfort.

The modern family shown participating in a seder is a heterosexual nuclear family with varying skin tones. After the telling of a Passover story, they explore the symbols on the seder plate and end with the afikomen.

This is a good book for sharing in a storytime about spring holidays or religious traditions, and it’s a nice one for sharing as a family while waiting for the seder to begin. Best suited for children 4 or 5 to 10 years old, to children who are ready to understand the concepts of slavery and G-d. Not so much read-alikes but books that could be shared at the same time include The Passover Guest by Kusel, Welcoming Elijah by Newman, Miriam at the River by Yolen.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who doesn't love those Little or Big Golden Books? This one uses beautiful colors and images and a warm, handsome family who are gathered together to celebrate Passover. For someone unfamiliar with the meaning of Passover and the rituals associated with it, including the foods that are served and why those foods are part of the meal, this picture book provides an accessible introduction. Not only that, but the text effectively tells the story of Moses, the treatment of the Israelites by the Egyptian Pharoah, and how Moses led his people to freedom after the Pharoah refused to set them free. The many warnings of disaster that were ignored by the ruler, and the subsequent plagues, ten in all, that were sent down by God are described vividly but in an easy-to-understand fashion. Having read these stories in the Old Testament of the Bible as a girl, I remember them well, and appreciated the care with which these events are listed here for a young audience, especially with the connection to Passover's significance.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using the Big Golden Book format, Bonnie Bader tells the story of Passover as a family sits down to their Seder supper to celebrate the freedom of the Israelites. The book tells the biblical story of Moses' birth and how he grew up in the Pharaoh's family. The reader sees how Moses tried to save the Israelites and spar the people of Egypt from the ten plagues eventually leading his people to freedom. Then the reader learns about the symbolism in the Seder meal to remember those events. With fewer available books celebrating Jewish holidays, Bader's book is a nice addition.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief summary: This narrative nonfiction story explains why Passover is celebrated by retelling the freedom of the Israelites led by Moses, the Ten Plagues, and the Red Sea's parting. Young readers learn about the food and the symbolism of the Passover Seder.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise wording and nice illustrations.

[Melenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

[Lysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Golden books also do a great job on different holidays!