The Jewish Community Center Of Metropolitan Detroit & Chabad invite you to experience the Barbara & Douglas Bloom Attyth Liulttory needs just a little something — a touch of prune juice, a dab of horse- radish. You can just imagine. And If you're looking for a wonderful so, in the end, the charoset is awful. i text, full of new and rich ideas But guess what? I about Pesach, pass this up. Next-door neighbor children But if you enjoy absolutely lovely, I show up with some extra charoset almost mesmerizing illustrations, this they just happen to have left from book is for you. These pictures are "religious school." (Wow! What I almost like something Chagall might a coincidence.) I do, and they draw you lovingly, If this all sounds a little too cute, warmly, into the text. They're often you're absolutely right. The story is thoughtful, a little magical, too. not unbearable, if you only have to The story, on the other hand, is read it once. The drawings are dumb-o-rama, and so gosh-darn nice enough, but nothing you'll politically correct. Check out these want to look at again and again. profound passages: Bottom Line: Okay pictures, "It's very important that we cele- so-so story. brate Passover every year," (the father says). "Every year we talk 6. SAME OLD STORY tabout what happened when we All About Passover by Judyth were slaves so that we won't forget Groner and Madeline Wikler, with what it feels like to be mistreated. illustrations by Kinny Kreiswirth (Kar- We talk about it so we'll remember Ben Copies, $5.95). I not to mistreat others and to pray Each year, the Jewish book indus- I for all of the people in the world try sees a boom around two holi- who don't have freedom." (Nice days: Chanuka and Pesach. Under- I idea — important one, too — but standably, this can be challenging. this is not the key message of Pesach.) If you're creative (which, we hope, I "My father says that Passover is a authors, illustrators and publishers I time to ask questions. So I do. And are), it means you've got to come I listen to the answers. But this year up with something new — a new think that Passover is most of all a twist on a familiar holiday, new I wonderful feeling in my heart, ideas for celebrating, new recipes. I dayenu." Or, you can do what these collab- And this year, - I recommend that orators did and come up with you don't buy this book because something decidedly un-new. reading it will leave you with an All About Passover provides basic lawful feeling in your heart, dayenu. information about Pesach, but noth- Bottom Line: A great picture ing you can't read about in other book, but pass on the text. books, including the Haggada 15. TOO MUCH SUGAR already on the shelf. This book talks Too Many Cooks: A about stuff virtually anyone already I Passover Parable by Edie knows: the Four Questions, the 1Stoltz Zolkower, with illustrations by afikomen, the order of the seder. Shauna Mooney Kawasaki (Kar-Ben So here's my question for the I Copies, $5.95). authors: What, exactly, is the point • of this book? Grandma is fixing her charoset Bottom Line: Avoid it — like when she starts talking on the the plagues. , phone. As each family member passes by, he or she takes a taste of the charoset, then decides it I Fishman, with illustrations by I Melanie W. Hall (Aladdin, $5.99). I Tours will be offered during which you will prepare and bake matzah and learn about the fascinating festival of Pesach. tuhcityt, AprIR the 115-4:15 p.m. / $3 per child Accompanying adults FREE! Last tour begins at 3:30 p.m. D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus 6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI Group tours may be scheduled by calling Jewish Life & Learning at (248) 661-7649. Additional support provided by: Benard L. Maas Foundation, Hiram Dorfman and David Engelbert, Trustees; and Sunshine Treats i I e I ❑ 'TN JN Subscribe JN & Save To receive The Detroit Jewish News by mail call (248) 354-6620 detroitjewishnews.com JN 3/31 2000 111