Review: Zayde Babysits Before Passover

Zayde Babysits Before Passover

by Jane Sutton, illustrated by Kate Chappell

Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner), 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Amy Brook Cohen

 

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This delightful story celebrating a granddaughter's relationship with her grandfather is an absolute pleasure from beginning to end. When Zayde is tasked with babysitting Ruthie so that her mother and father can go to Zayde and Bubbe’s house to help them prepare for hosting Passover, shenanigans of all kinds ensue. I can’t imagine anyone reading this book without smiling; it made me laugh out loud several times.

Even though Ruthie’s mother leaves Zayde a list of sensible activities that he should do with Ruthie while he babysits, the way the items on the list are executed by the two protagonists is pure comedy, and certainly not as Mommy had intended. When shopping for Passover items, for example, Ruthie pushes Zayde around the supermarket while he sits in the shopping cart wearing a party hat with pictures of matzoh on it, smiling broadly, holding up a bunch of parsley. And when instructed to help Ruthie to use up some physical energy because the upcoming Seder will be long, Zayde instead does handstands in the living room and careens down a slide at the playground. The two share a whole day of hijinks. All’s well that ends well, though - everything goes smoothly later at the Seder, which is led by Zayde. Ruthie asks the Four Questions, enjoys Bubbe’s matzoh ball soup, and finds the afikoman.

The large, bold, dynamic, colorful illustrations in this book do a stellar job of depicting the loving relationship between Ruthie and Zayde. The repetition of "Oy!" as well as the use of the words "Zayde" and "Bubbe" makes the book feel realistic and adds some Jewish and Yiddish joy.

Zayde Babysits Before Passover may have two Jewish protagonists who celebrate Passover, but the theme of love between a grandchild and her grandparent is of course non-faith specific, and the notion of the fun that can happen when grandparents babysit is one that any child can connect with. Key Passover traditions are made explicit (clearing the house of chametz, having a long seder) and are written in easily understandable language. At the end of the book, a short explanation of Passover is given, which provides helpful background for non-Jewish readers.

Reading this lighthearted and fun story, it is hard not to fall in love with both Ruthie and her grandfather. Zayde Babysits Before Passover is a joyous addition to any collection.

 

 

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Reviewer Amy Schreibman Walter is a writer and elementary school teacher whose essays and articles have been published widely on both sides of the Atlantic. Amy is currently at work on her first children's picture book. She lives in London, England, with her husband and two children.