A Jewish Holiday ABC - Softcover

PreSchool-- A compendium of Jewish holiday symbols and customs in the guise of an alphabet book that introduces selected terms. However, it does not teach the alphabet since key words are found within compound sentences. In no instance is the first letter of the name of the holiday used to demonstrate a letter : of the alphabet, nor are the holidays presented in the order in which they occur during the Jewish year. References to Passover are found in the letters A , M , P , and supposedly W . While almost all of the highlighted words pertain to elements of a holiday, they do not reflect the most important elements of the observance. The word xylophone , ``a gift for Chanukah,'' is highlighted for X and children who have left the seder table to wash their hands illustrates W . The illustrations, a combination of collage and colored pencil are well composed, beautifully textured, brightly colored, and attractive except for the faces. Both David Adler's A Picture Book of Jewish Holidays (Holiday, 1981) and individual holiday titles published by Kar-Ben are more informative selections for the same age-level. --Marcia Posner, Federation of New York and the Jewish Book Council, New York City
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Vibrant collages by the illustrator of Annabelle and the Big Slide (1989) portray a straightforward series of objects and celebrations, including not only the usual observances but Yom Ha'atzna'ut, the Israeli Independence Day. The several children in one family provide continuity; some of the entries contain familiar facts (at Chanukah, Maxie eats latkes), but others contain words that will be new to many (when ``Minnie eats lunch in the sukkah, she sniffs the sweet etrog and shakes the tall lulav''). Brief notes on the holidays and a glossary round out the informational value. Attractive and useful. (Picture book. 3- 7) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.