Jane Breskin Zalben - whose series of picture-books about an extended bear family celebrating the Jewish holidays covers everything from Rosh Hashanah (Happy New Year, Beni) to Hannukah (Papa's Latkes) - turns her attention to Passover in this charming tale. Excited at the upcoming Seder, during which she, as the youngest child, will be responsible for asking the all-important Four Questions, Rosie joins in the holiday preparations, from collecting and burning the chametz, to welcoming her aunts and uncles. The Seder itself passes enjoyably, but when it comes time to open the door for the Prophet Elijah, Rosie gets a shock...

With an engaging, family-oriented narrative, and adorable illustrations, Happy Passover, Rosie is an excellent selection for young Jewish children looking for entertaining holiday fare. I'm not sure that young readers from other traditions will get as much out of it, as the narrative assumes a basic level of knowledge, and some of the customs - the collecting and burning of the chametz, the hiding and hunting for the afikomen - will be unfamiliar to them. A brief afterword, in which the contents of the Seder Plate are listed and described, and in which the Four Questions are given, in both English and Hebrew, does give some background information, but those hoping for an explanation of the holiday would do well to look elsewhere. For those already familiar with the Passover story, however, this will be a welcome little book, emphasizing the warmth of family and tradition, at an important time of the year. ( )

Young bear celebrates passover with family