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7th out of 84 books
—
62 voters
Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher
by
Laurel Snyder (Goodreads Author),
David Goldin
While waiting for the bus, a man tells Baxter the pig about the joys of Shabbat dinner. But before Baxter can find out how he, too, can join in the fun, the man has boarded the bus. Soon after, Baxter learns that he certainly cannot be a part of Shabbat dinner because he's not Kosher. So begins one pig's misguided quest to become Kosher. Will Baxter succeed or will his dre...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
August 24th 2010
by Tricycle Press
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I got this as a First Reads a few months ago, but recently moved and just now unearthed it. It is a really cute children's book with an entertaining yet educational story. The pictures are gorgeous and I enjoy flipping through it. While centered around explaining shabbat, the story would likely be engaging to many different children and is an excellent idea for a book for children that pushes us to be open minded and continue learning.
Excellent Jewish children's book. One could offer a meta-analysis of the book as a de-othering of the ultimate "other" in Jewish tradition, the pig, whose goal throughout the book is to be kosher enough to make it to the Shabbat dinner table. Baxter eats kosher dill pickles, challah bread, and more, but he ultimately meets a rabbi in the street and learns that he can be a guest at the Shabbat table, not the main course, and therefore does not need to work so hard, futilely, to be kosher.
It's a r...more
It's a r...more
Baxter is a very curious pig. When he encounters a Jewish man at the bus stop, the man tells him all about the wondrous event of Shabbat. The man describes Shabbat in a way that intrigues Baxter. "The candles gleam and glow and dance while our sweetest voices lift in song."
The next day, another man tells Baxter that he cannot be a part of Shabbat dinner because, as a pig, Baxter is not kosher. Well, poor Baxter takes it upon himself to do everything he can to try and be kosher: he eats kosher pi...more
The next day, another man tells Baxter that he cannot be a part of Shabbat dinner because, as a pig, Baxter is not kosher. Well, poor Baxter takes it upon himself to do everything he can to try and be kosher: he eats kosher pi...more
Baxter, a curious sort of pig, wants to be kosher so he can be a part of Shabbat dinner. He wants to see the candles gleam and glow and dance and lift his sweetest voice in song. After eating kosher pickles, challah bread and behaving like a cow, Rabbi Rosen explains that if Baxter is kosher, that means he can be eaten for dinner, but everyone is welcome at Shabbat dinner.
kosher - shabbat -
kosher - shabbat -
Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher features a pig, Baxter, who wants to be a part of Shabbat dinner, but is told he can not be because e is not kosher. Baxter tries different things in order to become kosher, such as eating kosher pickles for a week, eating 5 raisin challah, and pretending to be a cow. However, he is repeatedly told that he is still not kosher. It is not until Baxter meets a rabbi that he realizes he is not kosher to eat. The rabbi explains to him that everyone is welcome t...more
A fun picture book, with a great sense of humor. Is there anything less kosher than a pig? Baxter is nonetheless determined to become kosher and thus qualified to take his place at Sabbath dinner.
Get ready to chuckle at the cute and silly adventures of Baxter, a pig who worries that he won't be able to join in the holiday festivities of Shabbat because he is not kosher. After numerous attempts to transform himself into the perfect invitee, Baxter learns from a rabbi that kosher refers to food, not friends! While Baxter will never be kosher to eat (something he's greatly relieved to hear), he is more than welcome to the rabbi's home to celebrate the Shabbat with her.
Not only does this bo...more
Not only does this bo...more
Cute story about the true mitzvah of Shabbat dinner--inviting those who want to learn more to join.
An explanation of kosher at a child's level of reading.
My Take
It's cute with a nice introduction for children to the Jewish religion and Shabbat. The means of discussion uses kosher food with poor Baxter as the comic relief not knowing he doesn't want to be kosher.
The illustrations were a mixed lot. Incredibly simple line drawings with a scattering of shadow and no shading mixed with photographs of real food. Interesting combination.
The Story
A chance encounter with an old man finds Baxter wanti...more
My Take
It's cute with a nice introduction for children to the Jewish religion and Shabbat. The means of discussion uses kosher food with poor Baxter as the comic relief not knowing he doesn't want to be kosher.
The illustrations were a mixed lot. Incredibly simple line drawings with a scattering of shadow and no shading mixed with photographs of real food. Interesting combination.
The Story
A chance encounter with an old man finds Baxter wanti...more
This is a silly book with silly illustrations, but it does a good job of introducing the concept of kosher and the welcoming traditions of sharing the sabbath. Baxter is a pig who wants to participate in Shabbat dinner, but learns that he can't because he's not kosher. He tries to stuff himself with kosher pickles and kosher challah and even pretends to be a cow, but nothing makes him kosher. Then he meets a female rabbi who says that while Baxter will never be kosher to be eaten at Shabbat din...more
Aug 20, 2011
Melanie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-literature,
picture-book,
pigs,
jewish-people,
judaism,
friends,
shabbat,
holidays,
humorous-stories,
kosher-food
A humorous tale of a pig who hears about Shabbat dinner from a man waiting for the bus. The singing and lighting of candles intrigues him. However, for some reason, the nice man tells him that he is not kosher, and therefore cannot be part of Shabbat dinner. So, Baxter the pig eats tons of kosher pickles and 5 loaves of raisin challah bread and tries to become a cow. Nothing works. Until a rabbi finally tells him that although he is a pig, and therefore will never be kosher to eat, he is more th...more
Adorable book about Baxter, a pig who wanted to be kosher. It's a nice story with a nice lesson on the acceptance of everyone/others. I heard about this book from a friend of mine (Vicki) and told the librarian at my son's school when I was there on my volunteer shift in the library, and she told me to order it for her. I definitely recommend this book to read to children.
I'm not really the target audience for this book, I don't imagine, but I still enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for any book that combines drawn illustrations with magazine cutouts, but I thought the text was funnier than the art (although the pickle endpapers are fun). I think it'd be neat to study this book with Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, which uses a similar style of art.
I enjoyed this humorous children's book as much as my son did. Baxter the pig goes on a silly quest to become kosher so he can participate in Jewish meals, only to find out in the end that anyone is welcome at a Jewish shabbat table. Silly and fun story. I thought the message of inclusivity was an important one. It was told - with kosher pickles and challah and kugel - like a real geshmake Jewish story.
As someone with limited knowledge of the Jewish faith, I still found this book HILARIOUS! Baxter is just so dedicated, so earnest to be Kosher so he can go to Shabbat dinner. The story is fun and the illustrations take it to the next level.
First of all, you've got to love the title. The book plays on the confusion between Baxter and the people he meets, while introducing some very fundamental Jewish ideas about hospitality and tradition.
"It's a mitzvah to invite a stranger to dinner and you, my friend, are strange indeed." HA! He is, and is totally adorable to boot. Cute and fun and totally gave me a craving for raisin challah.
Feb 29, 2012
Marija
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reading-with-the-kids
Perfect funny read for pork-obsessed parents in Portland, OR. It made me smile, while having a cute message about inclusion and togetherness.
with a title like this, i HAD to read it. it's cute, but not a good read-aloud - too wordy. glad i read it, though.
A nice story that introduces readers to Shabbat dinner and the meaning of the word kosher. Glossary included!
Feb 11, 2013
Brianna Soloski
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-in-2013,
picture-books
This was cute, but I thought the illustrations could have been better.
A cute way to introduce kids to the concept of keeping kosher.
What a hilarious celebration of Shabbat! Really enjoyed this read.
Funny pig who wants to be kosher until he learns what it means.
Little Baxter just wants to be cool, and the coolest animals on the farm all all Kosher. Mr. Cow, the Goat Bros. and even the entire Sheep Herd all are part of this exclusive club... and it sounds awesome! But mean Mr. Farmer says Baxter can never be Kosher... pigs just aren't allowed. Baxter thinks that's a load of, well, bull, and soon he and Sammy Bee (who isn't Kosher, even though everyone in the Kosher Klub seems to love saving his puke) are off on an adventure that will teach them the true...more
Picture book to what a Shabbat is all about.
And the sequel's just as good... Publish it!
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!!
A basic, but by no means boring, introduction to the Jewish dietary laws. With a pig as the protagonist. Compelling illustrations and an adorable pig. A winning combination.
Feb 09, 2011
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
humor,
picture-book
Baxter learns about the Shabbat meal and wants to see the dancing candles, and experience it for himself. He is told he must be kosher and sets out to become Kosher. The steps he takes are hysterical. In the end, he learns that though a pig may never be kosher, that doesn't mean he can't participate. The book was a fun read, with a great message at the end and loved the mixed media illustrations.
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Laurel Snyder is the author of four children's novels, "Bigger than a Bread Box," "Penny Dreadful," "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains OR The Search for a Suitable Princess" and "Any Which Wall" (Random House) as well as three picture books, "Nosh, Schlep, Schluff," "Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher," and "Inside the Slidy Diner" (Tricycle).
A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a f...more
More about Laurel Snyder...
A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a f...more
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Want to co-write a sequel?
04. Juli, 08:31 Uhr