On Passover

A girl explores the meaning of the Jewish holiday of Passover by asking questions about her family's special traditions. The sights, sounds and tastes of Passover can be found in every corner of the girl's home. Her mother explains how Passover is a week to ""eat special Passover dishes,"" and a time to remove all leavened bread from the house. The holiday smells-chicken soup, gefilte fish, apples, nuts and cinnamon-waft through the kitchen as Grandmother cooks, and the sounds of Passover ring out when the girl's father and brother read from ""the Haggadah, the Passover service book."" The loving, dynamic family unit depicted here laudably expresses equal amounts of respect and joy in their holiday preparations. In her first book for children, Fishman offers a clear, thorough presentation of the religious significance of this celebration that never sounds didactic. Her work will prove comforting to Jews and illuminating to non-Jews. Hall's (July Is a Mad Mosquito) rich mixed-media creations bustle with energy, and her warm portraits of a contemporary family are also amply decorated with religious symbols and snippets of biblical scenes. Ages 5-up. (Apr.)