Wonders And Miracles : Passover Companion, A

Rating:
Summary: Award winner from the Association of Jewish Libraries!
Review: This book won the National Jewish Book Award from the Jewish Book Council and was named a Sydney Taylor Honor Book by the Association of Jewish Libraries in 2004. In addition, Eric Kimmel was named the 2004 Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award winner for his overall contributions to Judaic children's literature.

This "Passover companion" follows the order of the seder but inserts explanations, background information, interpretations, and illustrative stories that flesh out the meaning of each traditional step. The book provides a very complete package, and the author explains that it should be read before the holiday and used as a resource during the seder, as it is too long to be used as a haggadah.

The reader is immediately struck by the sumptuousness of the illustrations, which are reproduced in vibrant color from many sources. We see details from medieval haggadot, photographs of Judaic ritual objects, paintings, and even a few modern book illustrations. Captions tell us the source of each illustration and explain the significance of the objects or actions depicted. The book's design includes thick paper, plenty of white space, and decorative elements in gold.

Most spreads include an illustration, but there are a few that are somewhat text-heavy. Some of the longer sections, especially those that retell the stories of Joseph and Moses, are a bit dry. The text is clearly written but frequently employs sophisticated vocabulary; the book is aimed at families rather than at child-readers. Older children and teens (and adults) will come away from this book with a deeper understanding of Passover and its rituals.