A Sweet Passover(PJ Library) edition

by Lesléa Newman

This book is in excellent condition, it looks new.

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Holiday, Childrens, Cultural, Fiction, Religion

Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Lesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.

Reviews

[Amanda Nye]

1.) Text-to-Self: I have family members that are Jewish and I get to witness some of the more traditional Jewish celebrations.

2.) This book introduces students to the Jewish celebration of passover in a fiction story. I like this book because it is a young girl going to her Grandparent's house to help celebrate passover. By sharing everything that little Mariam loves about passover, the book shares some of the important traditions of the holiday. I also like that this book supplies definition of terms in the back. That would allow for some great in-class discussion. Mariam eats too much Matzah at the beginning of passover and gets sick. Through this, the author shares the tradition of making Matzah and even provides a recipe in the back of the book. I am hoping to integrate this into my culture unit next year!

3.)
Remembering: What is matzah?
Understanding: Retell what happened in this story.
Applying: Think about when Mariam ate too much matzah. What would you have done if you were in her situation?
Analyzing:What was your favorite part of this book? Why?
Evaluating: What is your opinion about the celebration of passover? Why?
Creating: (In the middle of the book) What do you will predict will happen with Mariam now that she is sick?

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved A Sweet Passover by Leslea Newman and illustrated by David Slonim. This would be a fantastic book to read to children celebrating Passover. Little Miriam loves the holiday and everything about it: especially the matza. On the seventh day of the feast, she eats a bit too much. Then next day, she swears to never eat matza again, even though her grandfather has made matza brei (French toast) for breakfast. This gives the adults in the story an opportunity to remind Miriam why they eat unleavened bread and what it represents to them. In the end, she changes her mind and she and her grandfather make more matza brei together. This book was well written and had a nice flow; the text layout added to the readability.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet tale about a family's Passover celebration. The narrative is fun to read and I liked how the story centers on the family gathering and that Miriam's grandfather helps her to make the matzah brei for herself.

The illustrations are colorful and cartoonish and complement the story nicely. A brief summary of the Passover holiday and a glossary of terms are also included. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sweet Passover is a really cute story with lovely illustrations. It's a great book for Jewish children and their families looking for a book to celebrate Passover with, but it's also a solid book for non-Jewish children to learn about Passover.

Definitely recommended.

[Erika Dreifus]

Was introduced to this one when the author shared it in a superb presentation at the recent Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) virtual conference, and had to check it out for myself. A very "sweet" book!

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is, at the base of this particular story, at least one thing that is off, but it is a minor thing, in that technically the Passover is itself only the one-night festival at the beginning of the 14th day of the first month of the biblical calendar, while this book uses the mistaken conflation of Passover with the seven day period of the Days of Unleavened Bread that begin on the 15th. That apart, this is a book that is easy to relate to. The author is correct that it is a required act to eat unleavened bread during the Days of Unleavened Bread ('seven days you must eat unleavened bread' and all that), and as someone who has gotten tired of the same bread when one eats it over and over again at every meal (as was the case when I had hallullas at the Feast of Tabernacles in Chile in 2000), there is a lot about this story that I can personally relate to, although I must question whether the recipe at the end is as unleavened as the author would like to believe given its ingredients and the process of making it. Even so, the story itself is sweet enough.

This book is a short volume of less than 50 pages that deals with a girl named Miriam who loves celebrating the Days of Unleavened Bread with her family--most of whom are given appropriately biblical names like Nathan and Rachel. Throughout the story the author talks about the family love that is present in three generations of this particular family, and how it is that after trying to eat matzos--apparently the plain matzos--a variety of ways, Miriam gets sick and tired of matzos on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, where she refuses to eat an apparently tasty matzo version of French toast before being convinced to try it by her hunger and arguments that appeal to her sense of duty, after which she helps her grandfather cook it to eat. A recipe of the dish is included at the end for readers to try for themselves, and it uses matzo and water as a dough to which eggs, milk, and other ingredients are added. And, of course, a lot of time is spent on the mostly nonbiblical traditions of the Seder, which tend to be easily enjoyed by many.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost everyone has, at least once in their lifetime, binged on a much loved food until they feel that they will never want to eat it again. In Leslea Newman's "A Sweet Passover", Miriam eats so much matzah that she wakes up on the last day absolutely sick of it, and declares that she will "Never eat matzah again!" Grandpa has made a delicious matzah brie for breakfast, but still she refuses. In the ensuing family discussion, her elders remind her of many reasons why matzah is so important. Young readers will hear how it represents the lack of time for bread to rise when we left Egypt. But the reason that surprised and charmed me is that matzah reminds us to be humble. I loved the relationship that Miriam has with her elders. I especially like how Grandpa handled the situation. The illustrations by David Slonim were adorable. This is a cute book that will enchant any Jewish youngster. The book also explains a little about Passover in an age appropriate manner for non-Jews and would be great for a school or library story-time session.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miriam and her family spend Passover together, happily eating matzah with every possible coating: cream cheese, jam, butter, etc. By the final day, she's sick of matzah! Then Grandpa makes delicious matzah brei for everyone but Miriam won't have any so the family reminds her why Passover is more than just eating unleavened bread!

This lovely picture book about Passover gave me a lot of feelings. It reminded me so much of my own family and childhood, from the traditions to the sprinkled in bits of Yiddish. It's a good reminder of why Passover is such a meaningful holiday, and a good primer for people wanting to learn about the holiday in an accessible, not-especially-religious manner.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book teaches principles of love, cooperation, faith, and significance to each family member. One of my favorite lines from the book is "How else will we remember that even the plainest food eaten in freedom tastes sweeter than the fanciest food eaten in slavery." Simple food helps us to remember to be humble.

[Brittany DeWolf]

Very sweet book! My youngest enjoyed getting to learn about the holiday traditions of others. Although I'm a bit (or a lot) unsure, he really wants to attempt the recipe for Matzah Brei that is included. We shall see. Fingers crossed!

[Alycia Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun story. This story is about a little girl named, Miriam. Miriam thoroughly loved going to her grandparents home to celebrate Passover. I loved this book!

[Maggie]

This book is very a fun, informative read. It has great author notes, glossary, and even a recipe.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Passover story, nice mix of Yiddish in the book.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a sweet story. I want to try the recipe at the end.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young person gets tired of eating matzah. Then the parents and grandparents win her over.

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would give it 3.5 if possible. Cute story, good message. Made me hungry.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lotsa matzah!