Afikomen

by Tziporah Cohen

In this wordless time-travel adventure, three children at a Passover seder visit ancient Egypt to help baby Moses find his way safely to Pharaoh’s daughter.

When a family settles at the table for Passover, their dog nabs the afikomen bag (containing matzah used for the seder) and dives under the tablecloth. The children follow him and find themselves transported to ancient Egypt. There, they see baby Moses’ mother and sister Miriam placing him in a reed basket. The baby’s journey down the Nile is hazardous ― he encounters several obstacles along the way, including a wily crocodile. Thanks to the three children, he reaches his destination unharmed, with a piece of afikomen tucked into his basket. The children return to the seder table and, exhausted, fall asleep. But what are their parents to make of the grains of sand in the afikomen bag?

Includes an author’s note about the meaning of the Passover holiday and about different afikomen traditions.

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Jewish, Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Sarah Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to 49th Shelf “All Canadian Books”! and publisher Groundwood Books Ltd for a copy of Afikomen by author Tziporah (Tzippy) Cohen and illustrator Yaara Eshet.
This wordless children’s picture book about Passover is beautifully illustrated in ink and water colours.
A Jewish family are gathered for the Passover Seder (a ritual feast to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt), when their plucky dog steals their Afikomen (the last food to be eaten at the Seder meal) bag that holds the matzah (unleavened flatbread). Three curious kids follow the dog under the tablecloth where they are magically transported to ancient Egypt – and watch as Moses’ mom and sister Miriam send Baby Moses down the river Nile!
My son and I read this book a few times. We used our own words to tell the story. My son’s favourite character was the dog. I appreciate the author’s note describing the meaning of Passover and different Afikomen traditions. I had never heard of Afikomen before reading this book.
I recommend this charming time travel picture book to Jewish families, and to young children of all faiths.
#afikomen #passoverseder #49thshelf #CanadianBooks #goodreadschallenge2023

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When 3 children slip under the table at the seder meal they find themselves in ancient Egypt. The girls put baby Moses in a basket and send him down the river, they follow the basket to make sure he gets safely to Pharoah's daughter; they encounter Egyptian children and a crocodile but eventually the baby arrives safe and sound. Will they get back home safely themselves?

This wordless Passover story includes an author's note telling about the afikomen and the customs surrounding it. A young child would need some background knowledge to understand what they are seeing in the pictures. The characters are Jewish.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this unique comic-style wordless picture book readers will discover the origins of Passover as a family gathers to celebrate a ritual feast. The matzah is broken in half and placed in an afikomen bag. It is usually taken by the children and held ransom for a prize, but the family dog grabs it and hides under the table. Following the dog, three Jewish children time-travel to the banks of the Nile in ancient Egypt. Readers can learn more about the meaning of the Passover holiday at the end of the book where the author has also included information about different afikomen traditions.

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully-realized wordless picture book about the Passover tradition of afikomen and how, for the particular kids in this story, the practice of hiding away the afikomen transports them back to the moment when Moses was set into the rushes in ancient Egypt. A gorgeous and thoughtful book for sharing and discussing.

Themes: Passover, Jewish Tradition
Age range: Kindergarten-up

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the most unique holiday books I've reviewed in awhile. Even though the book is set during Passover and titled after the afikomen bag that contains matzah, it shows an adventure of three children traveling back in time to Egypt to make sure baby Moses makes a safe passage to the Pharaoh's daughter.

[Kara Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was overwhelming to read, but a great book! It can be enjoyed by children who know how to read and who don't. This is because it is a wordless book. It tells the story of three children going back in time. The three children then are responsible for taking Moses to the Pharaoh’s daughter. It could confuse children, but it is a good read for observing other cultures and stories.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars (it was okay)

I found this wordless picture book to be kind of odd.

Three kids are transported back in time when trying to hide the Afikomen. They end up helping Moses's basket travel safely down the river.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that introduce elements of holidays that I may have never celebrated but add to the richness of the beliefs I hold. This celebrates a small tradition that involves the children during Passover and why it has become an important part of this sacred holiday. Beautiful!

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful wordless picture book in which three children are magically transported, during their seder, back to Egypt, where they see baby Moses floating down the river. I wish I could have a seder like that!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars--Three children are transported back to the days of baby Moses in this wordless graphic novel. Lovely illustrations.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggle with wordless picture books and this one is no exception. The story of Moses, as told during Shabbat dinner.

[Peoria Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalist.
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Spencer rated this book 3 out of 5 stars.

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalist.

[Kate McCartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

YMA 2024 Sydney Taylor Picture Book honor

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult to understand what's going on if you don't know.

Drawings were good

[Ranette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book about the birth of Moses and his travels down the Nile.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wordless picture book provides a unique story for Passover. As the author points out in the afterward, during the Passover Seder, as we recall the story of Exodus, we are supposed to imagine ourselves leaving Egypt. It is this unique "time travel" that inspired this story. When the family dog grabs the Afikomen, the children follow him under the table and magically find themselves in Egypt just as Moses is being placed in the river by his mother and sister. The children end up ensuring that his basket safely reaches the pharaoh's daughter, before they return home to their own time. The story is clever. I love the dog stealing the afikomen and the sleepy children when they return from their adventure. I was also amused by the surprise ending. Because it is a wordless book, when children “read” the book, they can tell the story using their own words. In an interview Cohen talked about the process of creating a wordless picture book. The author creates the story and an outline that gives the artist just the details needed to bring their concept to life, but otherwise gives her free rein. Yaara Eshet created beautiful illustrations that complete the story. The pastel pallet provides a dreamlike quality to this magical adventure. In an afterward, Cohen explains the significance of the holiday and some of the different afikomen traditions around the world. This background would be helpful to anyone unfamiliar with the hidden or stolen afikomen tradition. I found it interesting to learn some of the other traditions. I recommend this book as a welcome addition to any home library or religious school. There are a lot of fine Passover books available, but this unusual book is definitely one to add to your collection.