Passover Magic

The creators of Hanukkah! here offer an affectionate portrait of a family Passover seder, with text and pictures chockablock with intricate, often amusing details. The star of this beguiling brood is Uncle Harry, a part-time prestidigitator whose profession may be ``pulling teeth out of people's mouths'' but whose true love is ``pulling rabbits out of people's hats.'' From his arrival with gifts galore and a new bride (``This is my lucky charm-this is my Eda''), Harry's high jinks confirm the tale's originality. It's not only the busy kitchen that generates warmth: the story, told through daughter Molly's engaging voice, captures the emotions of a joyful family gathering while unobtrusively weaving in abundant information about a complex ritual. Hafner's bustling illustrations, at once cartoony and realistic, imbue this clan with individuality galore. From Aunt Eda in her ``sparkling'' costume to ever-groggy Uncle Arnold to Grandma as she approvingly presides over the chicken soup, these folks know how to share the magic. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)