The book tells the story clearly and concisely; the illustrations (new this year) are colorful and eye-catching, but what sets the book apart are the discussion themes for each of the eight nights -- suggestions for families to chat about while the candles are burning (what it means to be free, gifts and giving, what makes a hero, and more. There's also music and recipes to round out the holiday celebration.

For families starting out to celebrate Passover this guide tells you everything you need to know about the holiday and about the seder. Great for families with young kids, non-Jews, classrooms and home. Very user-friendly. And a few good recipes, too!

"Everyone loves birthdays," begins this lovely book explaining Rosh Hashanah to children. "Rosh" means "head. "Hashanah" means "Year." The book celebrates this birthday by explaining God's "gift of time" in the context of many other Jewish celebrations of annual "birthdays."

Rosh Hashanah "is the birthday of the world" while Nisan (the Hebrew month of Passover) is the annual birthday of the Jewish calendar, the first of Elul is the annual birthday for animals, Tu B'Shevat celebrates the annual birthday for trees and Tishri--the month of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur--celebrates the New Year.

Like the companion volumes on other holidays, this one contains many Midrashim--stories with lessons--and poems. We hear from the Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, who cries "Woe is me! Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgement is almost here, and I have not mended myself!"

And from a man, lost in the forest. When asked the way out by another lost soul, he replies, "Do not take the way I have gone, for that will lead you stray. Now let us look for the right way together."

It also includes one of my favorite stories--that of a generous rabbi who before dawn awoke, disguised himself as Vasil the peasant, crept in the shadows to the edge of town, cut a tree, chopped it into wood and brought it to a run-down shack at the edge of the forest. "How will I pay you?" asked the widowed occupant. "I will trust you," replied the rabbi, before kindling the fire and leaving without a word.

Children learn, also, about important New Year rituals, such as prayers for forgiveness (Selichot) at midnight on the Saturday before Rosh Hashanah, the giving of Tzedakah (charity), blessing and eating round Challah and apples dipped in honey (for a sweet and full year), tossing crumbs into moving water (Tashlich, to throw away our bad deeds), and the blowing of the Shofar, the ram's horn, to announce the beginning of the year, remind us that God is ruler and judge and warn us to improve ourselves. Alyssa A. Lappen

Exceptional job of helping children appreciate this important part of their Jewish heritage. Interesting and entertaining.

This book is not just for the 4- to 8-year-old set, but for older children who get tired at long Yom Kippur services.

During the afternoon break between services one can read children portions from this lovely book. It explains in simple terms why we need the new beginning offered by the High Holidays of Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur. It also distinguishes between the things for which God can forgive us, and the things that can only be forgiven by the wronged person.

The book includes four short Midrashim, which help to convey the healing message of Yom Kippur.

My favorite is the tale of the young boy whose father takes him to the synagogue, where he listens all day to the prayers and singing. Not knowing how to pray, he plays on his flute. His father becomes angry with him. But the Rabbi says, "All Yom Kippur I have prayed so hard that our sins might be forgiven. But I felt that my prayers were not heard. When your little boy played on his flute, I knew at once the gates of heaven had opened."

The book includes several prayers, too, in Hebrew, transliteration and translation. These are child-sized Hadlikat Nerot (candle lighting blessings), Hamotzi (blessing on the Challah), Birkat Hamazon (blessing after the meal), Birkat Habanim (blessing of the children) and Neilah (with the Shema). Alyssa A. Lappen

Come, Let Us Welcome Shabbat should be a mandatory primer for Jewish parents trying to teach their children the true meaning of their faith. This book lays out the Sabbath meal, traditions, prayers, and conduct in a simple and straight foward matter. The illustrations are pleasing to the eye and make the book more than a small bit beautiful. This would also make an excellent book for teachers trying to help their students understand the foundations of Judaic life.

As the foreward of this book says, daily Jewish prayers instill values in children. When we say a prayer before we eat, children understand that it's important to be thankful for what we have, including food on the table. When we pray before going to sleep for our safety, kids learn to be thankful for their lives. The bottom line: we love this book. It has prayers for greeting the new day, and bedtime prayers. When our beloved pet cat passed away this week, we opened the book to the prayer for mourners. By coincidence, the page included an illustration of an elderly woman with a cat! The words and illustrations are right on target for children, and parents will appreciate it, too. I highly recommend this book, and plan to buy it as baby gifts for family and friends.

This book is just right for the attention span of young children. The book has some Hebrew prayers(and the Hebrew is also written out phonetically) but it is mostly English. It is written so a first or second grade can participate in the Sedar by reading along.

I used this service with my own kids and now my grandson has his own copy. A classic that has stood the test of time. A perfect length and style for a child's first seder. A must!

We used it when our kids were small and now with our grandkids. It's stood the test of time, and the new illustrations are great for kids to color and bring to the table. A winner.