JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

For Children

The Little Midrash Says (The Book of Sh'mos) by Rabbi Moshe Weissman (1986). Published by Benei Yakov Publications, New York

This book includes some fascinating explanations of the plagues and other parts of the Passover story. (Note: Not all of the stories in this book are appropriate for preschoolers.)

Illustrated Children's Haggadah by Artscroll Mesorah Publications.

This illustrated Haggadah (geared for children ages 5 and up) contains big Hebrew letters with English translations, clear directions about what to do at each stage of the seder with appealing, colorful illustrations showing different steps of the Seder and the story of Passover. Younger children will enjoy looking at and discussing the colorful images.

Matzah Ball Soup by Joan Rothenberg (1999). Published by Hyperion Books, New York.

If you wanted to eat the best bowl of soup on Passover, whose matzah balls would you choose? Four aunts in one family compete for the coveted title of "Best Matzah Ball" maker. The story, geared for preschool age children, has a delightful ending and a recipe for matzah balls, too.

Toby Belfer's Seder, A Passover Story Retold by Gloria Teles Pushker, Illustrated by Judith Hierster (1994). Published by Pelican Press, Los Angeles.

A girl invites her non-Jewish friend to experience their family seder. The story of Passover unfolds in a way that maintains the wonder of the story, without overwhelming the non-Jewish guest. This book is ideal for classrooms where children of various denominations attend.

Uh! Oh! Passover Haggadah. Designed by Benjie Herskowitz, Illustrated by Janet Zwebner (1994). Published by Yellow Brick Road Press, Israel

This Haggadah is geared for children and families and includes pages with colorful images related to the story of Passover and the history of the Jewish people. The images, presented in a "Where's Waldo?" type format, challenge the reader to search for specific items on each page.

For Early Childhood Educators

A Different Night : The Family participation Haggadah- A Haggadah for the Four Children in Each of Us and The Leader's Guide to the Family Participation Haggadah by Noam Zion and David Dishon (1997). Published by The Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem, Israel.

Absolutely the most interactive and provocative text-based Haggadah on the market with oodles of ideas to work from for people of all ages.