Alligator Seder

by Jessica Hickman, Elissambura (Illustrator)

Overview

They look for bits of chametz. They’re good investigators.

They’re really just like you and me— except they’re ALLIGATORS.

A family of alligators in Florida prepares for their Passover seder, setting the table, welcoming guests, performing the seder rituals and eating the festive meal. Young readers will enjoy this rhyming, whimsical tale for the Passover holiday.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541560413
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2020
Pages:	12
Sales rank:	625,349
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 6.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 5 Years

About the Author

Jessica Hickman is a South Florida native, proud mama, and children's book author. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her family, where she enjoys live music, farmer's markets, and exploring the outdoors. Alligator Seder is her debut children's book.

Elissambura is an illustrator of many children's books, including Alligator Seder, Happy Roo Year: It's Rosh Hashanah, and Who's Got the Etrog? Her favorite subject to draw is animals. She works in a variety of techniques, including digital and mixed media. She lives in Argentina.

Editorial Reviews

"Alligator Seder is definitely a book to enjoy now, and to revisit on Passover." — Marcia Berneger, San Diego Jewish World

From the Publisher

2020-01-12
Alligator family and friends gather for a Passover Seder.

In the Florida Everglades, three alligators, likely a mother and a father-and-son duo who both wear kippot, prepare for the holiday meal by laying out a Seder plate, hunting for chametz, and putting the gefilte fish on the table. A trio of “gator guests” arrive, two adult gators with a toddler in tow, bearing wine. The celebration continues with the lighting of the candles, the blessing of the wine, the four questions, the telling of the Passover story, eating matzah, and the hunt for the afikomen. “Gator” conveniently makes a pleasant sonic echo with “Seder,” helping to propel the quatrains along: “It’s time for The Four Questions, / asked by Baby Gator. / Then comes the Passover story, / as at every family seder.” The gators are a happy bunch with expressive eyes and perpetual if toothy grins in Elissambura’s jewel-toned images dominated by blues and greens. Just enough Seder traditions are presented for a toddler audience, but few details of the Passover story are described. Compositions are busy and frequently presented in separate verso and recto layouts; combined with the lack of contrast, these design choices skew the audience somewhat older.

A cheerful introduction to the holiday for youngsters, both reptile and human. (Board book. 3-4)

Kirkus Reviews