4 comments about Sammy Spider's First Purim.

1. This book is very good for children of all ages. It tells the story about Purim in a fun and delightful way.



2. I very much enjoyed reading this story to the kids. Sammy keeps yelling out "MOTHER!" It made the story fun to read. And it builds up excitement for the holiday.



3. I don't know how the un-Jewish concept of a spider family became the mechanism for a series of books about Jewish holidays but my kids and their friends love them.
   
   In these books Sammy observes the human family and asks his mother what they are doing. The mother always seems to have the answer even if it doesn't concern spiders (they just spin webs). This time Sammy is watching the family getting ready for a Purim celebration. Sammy is full of questions and tends to ask them very loudly. At one point Sammy even needs to be rescued by his mother.
   
   This is a book of noises but they are not your typical children's book noises. There is more about this holiday in the book than in the Tu B'Shevat volume but only the superficial symbols. There is a short version of the story of Purim included at the end of the book but it is very basic and simple. Still, my children (six and under) did find the book entertaining.



4. My two-year-old daughter LOVES this book! She really enjoys joining in for the repetitive lines, "Mother!" and "Spiders spin webs!" The book also does a good job teaching about the preparation for the holiday, e.g., baking hamantaschen, making a costume. The human boy in the story makes a grogger out of a paper plate and buttons and my daughter and I followed the suggestion and made the same ones ourselves and they were a big hit during megillah reading. I've just ordered some of the other Sammy Spider books and I'm hoping they'll be as good as this one. I highly recommend it.

2 comments about Purim Goodies.

1. What an apt title! Here is a Purim goodie with a new tack - holiday unfettered by bible story - and with legs - based on a work by Sholom Aleichem. Author/illustrator Amalia Hoffman focuses on the tradition of shalach manes through a delightful Yiddish tale, humorous characters, and delicious Purim treats. The moral, delivered by the rabbi, is as digestible as the entire picture book. Two servants dressed in hand me downs and rags, head for each other's households to deliver the annual treat. They meet in route, stop to savor, and, before they realize it, gobble up all the goodies. The recipients consider the empty trays a hostile mockery and stop talking to each other. The wise rabbi shames the couples, restoring peace and teaching a lesson. The contrite servants bake hamentaschen for all the town poor; they share their recipes with readers. The setting is an Ashkenazic town large enough to hold various economic levels. The time is deduced from the pictures: plumbing, lighting, stoves, pocket watches, printed books and modern eyeglasses. This is an "in" story: the plot relies on young readers knowing Purim and its custom of sending gifts of food. The afterword offers bare bones holiday background; the ending glossary has no definition of Purim. The text meshes colorful description and dialog. Muted art supports and enhances the text, incorporating word balloons, interesting looking individuals, food as still life, and corner commentaries from bizarre figures. Biblical images and Jewish symbols float through the pages, noting the naturalness of Jewish identity for all characters, including household animals. The glossary defines Yiddish vocabulary. Ages 6 - 9. Reviewed by Ellen Cole



2. As a synagogue librarian, I welcome the book Purim Goodies as a breath of fresh air. The story about mishlach manot is one that young children can understand. The majority of children's books for Purim comprise the Biblical story of Esther, with its Byzantine plot and palace intrigue. It is not an easy story for children in grades K-2 to understand. I am delighted to have a book for young children that focuses on a different and simpler aspect of the Purim holiday.

1 comments about Barney Goes to the Fair.

1. I love this book.
   
   PKM

1 comments about The Runaway Latkes.

1. This is a very cute book that's a take off on the Gingerbread Man story. Kids will love it! It also includes a recipie for latkes.

No comments about A Mountain of Blintzes.

3 comments about Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr: With Praying, Fasting, and Charity (Holidays Around the World).

1. Title: Celebrate Ramadan & Eid Al-Fitr: with praying, fasting, and charity
   
   Author: Deborah Heiligman
   
   Published by: National Geographic Society
   
   Review By: Diana Rohini LaVigne, Indian Life & Style Magazine
   
   Beautifully photographed and impeccably written, National Geographic Society has added a much-needed book to their `Holidays Around the World' series. With the current state of confusion about the Muslim community, especially in America, Celebrate Ramadan & Eid Al-Fitr brings light to the rituals Muslim celebrate and united which includes praying, fasting and giving charity. Ramadan is a time for family, community and celebrating religious beliefs.
   
   With breathtaking photos that depict the dedication of Muslims worldwide during this sacred holiday time, readers will be delighted with the simple explanations of the complex religious rituals. It's not only a book for teenagers but also for adults.
   
   Towards the end of the book, there is a useful informational section called more about Ramadan. It offers facts about the holiday, more about the five pillars of Islam, an explanation of the Muslim Calendar, recipes to try, and a glossary for reference.
   
   A wonderful book to explore, understand and comprehend the dynamic and important celebration of Ramadan. It should be required reading for high-school teenagers in America and accompany the other books in National Geographic Society's `Holidays Around the World' series.



2. Deborah Heiligman's series : Holidays around the world is a good introduction to children unfamiliar with the holiday.
   
   The pictures are amazing and well laid out. For someone who celebrates Eid, the pictures will seem incomplete because there are so many more aspects than can be represented in a 32 page book. But for someone who has no idea about Ramadan and Islam, this is a very good introduction. ITs also extremely easy for children to read on their own.



3. I bought this book as an Eid-al-Fitr gift for my 9 year old step-daughter. I think it perfectly suits what I was shopping for: a simple explaination of what we do, why we do it and photographs of Muslims around the world who fast, pray, read Qur'an and celebrate just like we do. The book, writing, and all of the photographs are beautiful. At the end, there is a section with some "extras" where it explains the five pillars of Islam, the lunar calendar, dates of Ramadan for the next few years, recipes, etc. I know my step-daughter will enjoy this book and share it with friends. I would recommend this book to Muslim families or anyone who wants to share this important piece of Islam with children.

2 comments about Queen Esther Saves Her People.

1. This is the best telling of the Puirim story that I have come across for children. The narrative is very close to the original, but what makes the book wonderful are the illustrations which are fantastic. They are so vivid that my children (aged 4 and 6) love the book and ask for it again and again, even when Purim is nowhere in sight. The pictures also conjure up images of a time long ago which helps to give the children a sense of a far away time. I have used the book in a service for children for 4 -8 year olds at an Orthodox synagogue and even those who generally protest at being there are spellbound. Highly recommended.



2. We have had this book for a number of years and each of my three children has loved it. The pictures are beautiful and include details that can be used to interest children in the stories (such as animals that always appear on the same page with the characters with which they are associated). The story is quite close to the original.

4 comments about Story of Divaali.

1. Accurate ancient Hindu story, very nicely done for children and many adults.



2. The pages of this book are beautified with the carefully planed placement of illustrations, similar to efforts put forth in the preparation of the Divaali family festival. This book offers those who don't practice Divaali a detailed understanding to the importance of this celebration and it similarities to the Christian celebration of Christmas.



3. It is an excellent story book indeed but it should have been titled something like "The Ramayan". I bought it to introduce my child to the festival . Most of the book depicts the Ramayan and there is very little about Diwali as such. I guess it is a challanging task to write a book about Diwali without mentioning Ramayan. The illustrations are very pleasing to the eye and are proportionate to the text contained on each page. This should make it easier for early readers to keep the interest as they read. There is a page on how it is celebrated currently, it would have been more interesting to have some more illustrations to support that. I certainly recommend it to anyone interested.



4. Title: The Story of Divaali
   Author: Retold by Jatinder Verma
   Illustrations: Nilesh Mistry
   Format: Hard Cover Print
   ISBN: 1-84148-936-0
   Publisher: Barefoot Books
   Review By: Diana Rohini LaVigne, Indian Life & Style Magazine
   
   This timeless tale, The Story of Divaali is honored by extraordinary illustrations by Nilesh Mistry and beautifully crafted text by Jatinder Verma. Readers will enjoy the simplicity in the story and layout beginning with a trouble-free guide to the characters in the story. The complexities of this age old Hindu legend are presented in a way that is easy for young readers to understand. The use of visuals in this book in order to support the story line is superbly executed.
   
   Pages jump with color and images that beg readers to turn the page and discover why this story has lasted the test of time and the modern world. The pages come alive with the character's acts of bravery, the forces of evil trying to ruin the day and the stunning love story that shines throughout the book.
   
   Barefoot Books has created a book gem with the `The Story of Divaali'. The epic retelling is compelling, riveting and a visual superstar. `The Story of Divaali' honors the epic and continues the long standing history of its text.

2 comments about A Child's First Book of Jewish Holidays.

1. 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.



2. This book was too easy for my 5-year-old. She wanted more information than this book provided. It was better for my 2-year-old.

No comments about Weddings (Barbie Ultimate Sticker Books).