Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Charlesbridge (2020), Edition: Illustrated, 32 pages
Description
Inside the house, a boy prepares for the Passover ritual of welcoming Elijah--meanwhile, outside the house, a kitten lingers in the cold.
Awards
Sydney Taylor Book Award (Winner — Picture Book — 2021)
National Jewish Book Award (Winner — Children's Picture Book — 2020)
Mitten Award (Top Ten — 2021)
Charlotte Zolotow Award (Highly Commended Title — 2022)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Primary — 2022)
CCBC Choices (2021)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member melodyreads
Lovely story
LibraryThing member nbmars
This book tells the story of a young boy celebrating Passover with family and friends while juxtaposing it with the story of stray kitten just outside the house.
Each two-page spread is divided into what is happening inside with the boy and what is happening outside with the kitten.
Readers familiar
More astute readers will guess that if the boy and the kitten are to meet, opening the door for Elijah will also facilitate that process. And so their anticipation will build with every reiteration of the inside and outside verses.
When the boy finally gets to open the door:
“Inside, the boy looked outside.
Outside, the kitten looked inside.”
The startled boy asked “Elijah?” The kitten answered “Meow!”
The author concludes, “And that’s how Elijah found a home.”
An Author’s Note explains more fully the Passover holiday and the rituals of the Seder.
Illustrator Susan Gal used ink, charcoal, and digital collage, dominated by bright yellow for the warm and lively inside scenes, and blue and black framing the white kitten on the outside.
Evaluation: The author has chosen a clever approach to educate readers about the Passover holiday, by combining those details with an interesting plot and an adorable kitten. Young readers aged 4 and older of all religions will enjoy this pleasing story.
Each two-page spread is divided into what is happening inside with the boy and what is happening outside with the kitten.
Readers familiar
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with the Passover Seder, the ritual meal commemorating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, will know about the tradition of ending the ceremony by opening the door for Elijah the Prophet, whose appearance is hoped for. [In Jewish tradition, Elijah has had a number of roles making him a most welcome Passover guest, including the herald of the Messiah, miracle worker, healer, and promoter of social justice and welfare.]More astute readers will guess that if the boy and the kitten are to meet, opening the door for Elijah will also facilitate that process. And so their anticipation will build with every reiteration of the inside and outside verses.
When the boy finally gets to open the door:
“Inside, the boy looked outside.
Outside, the kitten looked inside.”
The startled boy asked “Elijah?” The kitten answered “Meow!”
The author concludes, “And that’s how Elijah found a home.”
An Author’s Note explains more fully the Passover holiday and the rituals of the Seder.
Illustrator Susan Gal used ink, charcoal, and digital collage, dominated by bright yellow for the warm and lively inside scenes, and blue and black framing the white kitten on the outside.
Evaluation: The author has chosen a clever approach to educate readers about the Passover holiday, by combining those details with an interesting plot and an adorable kitten. Young readers aged 4 and older of all religions will enjoy this pleasing story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member deslivres5
Holiday picture book story detailing the traditions surrounding the Passover seder, especially highlighting the participation of children. A cute little kitten mimics the traditions and plays an important part at the end.
Lovely illustrations and I appreciated the ethnic diversity surrounding this
Lovely illustrations and I appreciated the ethnic diversity surrounding this
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particular seder. Show Less
ISBN
1580898823 / 9781580898829
Other editions
Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail by Lesléa Newman (Hardcover)