Review: My Seder Plate
My Seder Plate: A Passover Book
by Kristen Weber, illustrated by Yaara Cellier
Clarion Books (imprint of HarperCollins), 2025
Category: Board Books
Reviewer: Lila Spitz
This Seder plate shaped board book for babies and toddlers educates young readers about the Jewish holiday of Passover. Every page features English and Hebrew names of foods on the Seder plate and an explanation on how the shape, color, and characteristics of each food symbolize specific events in the Passover story. The book begins with an empty Seder plate on the left-hand side of the page, however, as each successive page is turned, another food is added to the plate so that by the end of the story all seven foods on the Seder plate are present. The right-pages feature cartoon illustrations of a multigenerational redheaded Jewish family enjoying cooking, talking and preparing for the Passover Seder meal together.
My Seder Plate accurately describes each item on the Seder plate and explains its importance in the story of Passover. It authentically depicts traditional practices of Passover, it is simple enough to be understood by Jewish and non-Jewish readers and it provides readers with a deeper understanding of the Jewish holiday. The text has a ABCB rhyme scheme, making it perfect for a group read aloud or a one-on-one reading experience. It includes age appropriate vocabulary and it teaches sequencing. Because of these features I strongly recommend that his book be purchased by teachers and librarians for educational purposes and by grandparents as a gift to young grandchildren during the joyous celebration of Passover.
My Seder Plate accurately describes each item on the Seder plate and explains its importance in the story of Passover. It authentically depicts traditional practices of Passover, it is simple enough to be understood by Jewish and non-Jewish readers and it provides readers with a deeper understanding of the Jewish holiday. The text has a ABCB rhyme scheme, making it perfect for a group read aloud or a one-on-one reading experience. It includes age appropriate vocabulary and it teaches sequencing. Because of these features I strongly recommend that his book be purchased by teachers and librarians for educational purposes and by grandparents as a gift to young grandchildren during the joyous celebration of Passover.
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Reviewer Lila Spitz has been a Children's Librarian at the New York Public Library for three years. She participated on the 2022 BBFK Committee and the 2023 Storytime Committee. She loves researching the history of Children's literature and doing color by number sticker books.
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