Review: Next Year in the White House

Next Year in the White House: Barack Obama's First Presidential Seder

by Richard Michelson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Crown Books for Young Readers in partnership with PJ Library, 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Belinda Brock

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

 
Next Year in the White House starts off by telling the reader that while Christmas and Easter had long been observed at the White House, 2009 marked the first time that Passover was celebrated. This book recounts the interesting, true story of how that came to be.

The first scene opens with Malia, Sasha, and their dog Bo in the formal dining room as the staff prepares a traditional Passover dinner. The table is set beautifully with a Seder plate at the center. At this point, we reach the title page. Aha! So this is where the real story starts.

Flashback to a year earlier when three young staffers—Eric, Arun, and Herbie—were on the presidential campaign trail with then-Senator Barack Obama. They believe deeply in their candidate and social justice, but are homesick, hungry, and tired. They are Jewish and away from home at Passover. But they get creative and scrounge up some Haggadahs, Manischewitz wine, matzah, and macaroons and hold a makeshift Seder in a room in the hotel basement. Happy to be together, they gather to retell the story of the Israelites' journey to freedom.

They leave the door open for Elijah, but it is Senator Obama who joins them. It turns out that he is also homesick, hungry, and tired. As he participates in the Seder, he finds the Israelites' resolve and resilience to be relevant and inspiring. He draws parallels to the Black journey from slavery to freedom. As at the end of every Seder, a toast is made to "Next Year in Jerusalem," in hopes of better days to come. Senator Obama is moved to make a toast of his own, "Next year in the White House." This is a promise he can and does keep.

Extensive back matter includes a note from Herbie, Eric, and Arun, annotated Haggadah pages from the first White House Seder, a photo, details about the first White House Seder, more about Passover, more about the connection between Passover and Black history, and Arun's family recipe for flourless golden apricot cake, which was served at the Seder.

The award-winning team of author Richard Michelson and artist E.B. Lewis (they collaborated on Across the Alley and Happy Feet) created this special book. Michelson seamlessly weaves together the story of the first White House Seder, the messages behind the holiday of Passover, and its parallels to the civil rights movement. This book highlights history being made and shows us the personal moments that often go on behind the scenes.

Writers are cautioned not to use flashbacks in picture books, but breaking the rules works in the right hands as shown here. Lewis' richly-colored watercolor illustrations—expressive and elegant, detailed and dignified—are a wonderful complement to the text and help bring the story to life.

Jewish content is integral to this story and is presented in a positive and authentic way. This is a book with broad appeal. Non-Jewish readers will understand the holiday, learn more about the Jewish experience, and relate to the Israelites' struggle for freedom. Adults will enjoy reading this book, as well. This book would be a valuable addition to a home, school, or library collection as its many themes will spark thought-provoking discussion.

 

Editor's Note: This book was included on the Association of Jewish Libraries' Spring 2025 Holiday Highlights list.

 

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Reviewer Belinda Brock earned a MS in Literacy and Language from University of Chicago and her background is in teaching and educational publishing. She authored GG and Mamela, the first children’s book to address hospice care. Her essays have been featured on Kveller, Jewish Women’s Archive, and HuffPost.