Grover and Big Bird's Passover Celebration

by Ellen Fischer, Tilda Balsley, Tom Leigh (Illustrator)

Overview

Grover and Big Bird are in a hurry to get to the Passover seder, but—uh, oh!—there are many delays. Moishe Oofnik comes to the rescue in his tumbledown truck, but will they arrive in time to ask the Four Questions?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761384922
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2013
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Tilda Balsley has written many books for Kar-Ben, bringing her stories to life with rhyme, rhythm, and humor. Tilda lives with her husband and their rescue Shih Tzu in Reidsville, North Carolina.

Ellen Fischer was born in St. Louis. Following graduation from Washington University, she taught children with special needs and then ESL at a Jewish Day School. She lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband. They have three children.

Tom Leigh is a children’s book author and longtime illustrator of Sesame Street and Muppet books. He lives on Little Deer Isle off the coast of Maine.

Editorial Reviews

"In the first title, Big Bird joins Grover in Israel for Passover. As the two friends make their way across town to join Brosh's Seder, the details of the holiday are neatly worked into the action with Big Bird freeing Grover from a sticker bush (as the Jews were freed from slavery) and the pair hurrying to dinner (as the Hebrews hurried from Egypt without time for their bread to rise). It's Moishe Oofnik to the rescue when he gives them a ride to Brosh's house after a promise of plenty of bitter herbs to eat. 'I love this stuff,' he exclaims with watering eyes. In the second title, Grover learns about the concept of tikkun olam by helping Avigail, Brosh, and Mahboub with the mitzvah of cleaning up a playground after a storm. Even Moishe Oofnik participates in the good deeds by separating recyclables from the trash his friends bring him. Both books are brightly illustrated and explain Jewish concepts clearly, simply, and without condescension. Solid purchases for Jewish preschool programs and other preschools wishing to introduce Jewish holidays and practice." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Big Bird and Grover join their counterparts from Shalom Sesame to celebrate Passover in this sweet story of doing good deeds before the holiday. Big Bird wants to get to Brosh and Avigail's house in time to help prepare for the Seder meal, but he and Grover are waylaid by the problems of strangers who need their assistance. Worked into this simple and sweet story of doing mitzvoth (helping others or doing good deeds) is some very brief history of why Jews celebrate Passover to remember their release from slavery under Pharaoh. Children unfamiliar with the Israeli version of Sesame Street will have no trouble understanding that Avigail is Abby Cadabby's Jewish "cousin" and Moishe Oofnik ("Moishe the Grouch") and Oscar share personality traits and trashy tastes. The Passover tidbits that are worked into the tale, such as the Exodus, the presence of the empty chair for Elijah the Prophet, and the enumeration of the items on the Seder plate, are too sparse for a real explanation of the holiday. A very slim summary of how Passover is celebrated appears as an afterword. However, for children familiar with the celebration, or who have an adult who can expand on the meaning of the holiday, this is a serviceable introduction. Meanwhile, the familiar characters and the brightly colored illustrations will be popular with children who are fans of the show, and the message that any good deed is great preparation for a holiday celebration is a welcome one. This is something to keep little ones occupied while Mom gets dinner for a dozen on the table. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross

Children's Literature - Lois Rubin Gross