Books about Passover for Kids

Passover is an important Jewish holiday that celebrates the freedom of the Jewish people from enslavement in Egypt and their exodus to the promised land. There’s a lot of symbolism and storytelling involved in the Seder, the traditional meal that marks the beginning of Passover, and kids in particular might not understand what all is going on or why.

Whether your family has a Seder or you just want to learn more about the Jewish traditions, these books will help.

Why on This Night? A Passover Haggadah for Family Celebration by Rahel Musleah (with illustrations by Louise August) covers the story of Passover, the steps of the Seder and why these different foods, questions and other traditions are included in the ceremony.

The haggadah includes Hebrew text, transliteration and English translations, so non-Hebrew speakers can recite the words in Hebrew or in English.

It also includes activities, recipes, songs and things for kids and adults alike to think about as they go through the ceremony. For example as the home is cleared of hametz (foods containing yeast or made from dough that rises), we can also consider the hametz inside us, the puffed-up feelings that we are better or deserve more than others.

All of the elements of the Seder plate are explained, and different variations from different parts of the world are included. Haroset (a mix of dried fruit and wine) recipes come from the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions, as well as one in the style popular in Jerusalem. As Jews in Iran talk about the plagues they may use scallions or leeks to gently hit each other on the shoulders as a bitter reminder of the Jews’ time of enslavement.

This book is a great overview of the Seder and the Passover story that you can use to direct your family’s celebrations or add to your current family traditions.

About the book: 112 pages, paperback edition published 2024 by Kalaniot Books, suggested retail price $19.99.

An Invitation to Passover by Rabbi Kerry Olitsky and Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen, illustrated by Mariia Kolker, tells the story of Hannah, whose extended family can’t come to the Seder this year, so she invites her friends, who bring their own traditions to the table.

It’s a lighthearted and sweet look at the traditions and meaning of Passover, not just as a religious holiday that recalls Jewish history, but also as a celebration of spring, an even that brings people together, and a day of special food including bitter things, sweet things, and of course matzoh (and matzoh ball soup!). There’s even a recipe so you can make your own matzah for your Passover celebration.

About the book: 32 pages, paperback, published 2024 by Kalaniot Books, suggested retail price $11.99.

Homemade Passover Seder Plates

Bejeweled Wine Glasses for Passover

Learn About Passover Seder with a Craft

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Passover Seder Plate Crafts

The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is important throughout Mexico and other parts of the world. Her feast day is Dec. 12, and the celebrations honoring her appearance to Juan Diego in 1531 begin a few days before that.

Whether you celebrate yourself or just want to share about the celebration at home or in your classroom, Las Mañanitas: The Beautiful Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a good place to start. The book, by Ernesto Joel Vega Rosales and Jeanette Gonzalez Seneviratne, with illustrations by Dana Sanmar, tells the story of a family’s celebration of the feast day in both English and Spanish.

They prepare with a novena, which is nine days of prayers and preparations. The children, Lucia and Pablo, are given special outfits made by their grandmother that look like what Juan Diego might have worn when he saw Our Lady. The book describes the prayers that are made each day, such as a prayer for respect for life, for families and for the indigenous people of the Americas, to name a few.

As told in the book, Juan Diego was a native Mexican born near modern day Mexico City. His given name was Cuaauhtlatoatzin, which means “He who speaks like an eagle.” When he converted to Christianity his name was changed to Juan Diego, and as he walked to church he passed a hill called Tepeyac. One day he heard the birds singing especially beautifully and a voice called him to go to the top of the hill.

There he saw Our Lady of Guadalupe, who asked him to tell the bishop she wanted a chapel built in her name at the foot of the hill. The bishop asked for a sign that Juan Diego really saw her, and later she had him collect flowers that she blessed and take them to the bishop. When Juan Diego dropped the flowers, an image of Our Lady could be seen on his cloak, which is still on display in her basilica to this day.

The feast day is celebrated as mañanitas, which includes singing, indigenous music and dancing, and children presenting flowers to Our Lady. Juan Diego is remembered today as being humble, brave and faithful, and was the first indigenous American made a saint.

The book is colorful and tells the story in a clear way, and it’s fun to have it both in English and Spanish if you teach Spanish or speak Spanish at home or in the classroom. It’s a great way to learn the basics of the celebration and the story of Juan Diego and why he is still remembered today.

About the book: 40 pages, paperback, published 2024 by Loyola Press. Suggested retail price $14.99.

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