Book Description
for Welcoming Elijah by Lesléa Newman and Susan Gal
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
A contemporary Passover Seder alternates between the perspective of a brown-skinned, kippah-wearing boy celebrating inside with a diverse group of friends and family, and a stray kitten outside his home. "Inside, the boy dipped parsley into salt water. Outside, the kitten chewed a wet blade of grass ... Inside, the boy heard the tale of the Israelites leaving Egypt. Outside, the kitten heard leaves whispering in the trees." In contrast to the cold, shadowy blue of the kitten's quiet surroundings, the boy's evening glows with warmth and companionship. He participates in traditional Seder rituals as the kitten passes a solitary evening; occasionally the narrative returns to a chorus of "Still the boy waited. Still the kitten waited." When the boy finally opens the door for Elijah, the kitten is peering inside. "And that's how Elijah found a home." An author's note provides more information about Passover and her memories of childhood Seders, including a boxed list of traditional rituals. (Ages 4-7)
CCBC Choices 2021. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2021. Used with permission.