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For the first time, the richness of the Jewish tradition is combined with lavish and intriguing artworks from the collection of The Jewish Museum in New York City to produce a treasury that is ideal for the entire family. The story of the Jewish people goes back thousands of years. And every year is punctuated by special days when families rejoice in a rich heritage, recall history, renew the spirit, and remember what it means to be Jews. Jewish Holidays All Year Round allows everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, to explore the true meaning of these special days.

The traditions and history of each holy day are explained in simple, clear language, along with the ways in which the day is observed, both in the synagogue and at home. Great crafts (including a miniature sukkah) and recipes (for tasty treats such as hamentashen) invite children and families to make every celebration uniquely their own.

HWritten by Booklist's children's book editor, abundantly illustrated with Savadier's (The Uninvited Guest: and Other Jewish Holiday Tales) playful watercolors as well as color photographs of art and artifacts from New York City's Jewish Museum, this book strikes a tone both child-friendly and respectful. As the author thoughtfully explores the history and significance of the holidays and festivals of the Jewish year, she succinctly links these to traditions and rituals. For example, after explaining Sukkot and identifying it as an inspiration for the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving, she writes, "Today, each sukkah fragile... open to the sky and the rain reminds us that we eternally owe our thanks to God. The sukkah symbolizes our need for God's shelter." Instructions for holiday activities (crafts, recipes, etc.) are also included. Almost every page features at least one illustration, from a view of an 18th-century Galician Torah crown to a contemporary photo of a Harlem congregation blowing long, twisty shofars to a 1910 Rosh Hashanah "card" carved on a walrus tusk in Nome, Alaska. Savadier's vignettes, mostly of busy, happy people, underscore the liveliness of Jewish faith. All ages. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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Gr 3-5-This celebration of and introduction to the Jewish holidays describes observances both at home and in the synagogue. The preface explains the Jewish calendar. Each chapter is devoted to a single holiday and has an activity and a recipe. Most of the projects could be accomplished at home or in a classroom setting; many of the recipes are complicated. (Readers are instructed to ask for adult help.) For example, the Sabbath chicken noodle soup requires a whole quartered chicken and more than two hours to simmer, but the Tu B'Shevat spring cleanup would be a nice reason for a class to pick up litter in the schoolyard. Illustrated with lively pen-and-ink and color sketches of diverse families celebrating, and with full-color and black-and-white photographs of artifacts from the Jewish Museum in New York, this book does an excellent job of bringing the holidays to life. The text, illustrations, and photographs work together to create an informative and enjoyable survey for Jewish collections and to round out multicultural collections.-Martha Link, Louisville Free Public Library, KY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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Gr 3-5-Cooper introduces 13 Jewish holidays, details how they are celebrated at home and at the synagogue, and presents related recipes and activities. Beautifully illustrated with photos of culturally significant objects and paintings as well as child-friendly, pen-and-ink pictures, this welcoming volume is just right for sharing. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.