The Family (and Frog!) Haggadah
Written by Rabbi Ron Isaacs and Karen Rostoker-Gruber
Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
Behrman House   2/15/2017
978-0-87441-937-5
56 pages    Ages: Entire Family

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“Make your seder different than all other seders!

“Start with a traditional Haggadah text, add vibrant artwork, your favorite songs, and fun facts to it. Then add a hopping frog to its pages, and you’ll get . . . The Family (and Frog!) Haggadah! Pass on your timeless heritage while creating new seder traditions that you and your family will look forward to repeating year after year” [PUBLISHER WEBSITE ]

Review
[WC 319]
Passover begins today, April 10th and ends the 18th. Tonight or tomorrow night, most people celebrating Passover will hold a seder (Jewish feast commemorating the exodus the Jews from Egypt). The Haggadah is a guideline to the seder. Everything you need is in the Haggadah, from what and when to say, sing, read, question, and do.
The Family (and Frog!) Haggadah the frog was chosen as a symbol of transformation. As a frog changes from a tadpole to a frog, the Israelite changes from slave to one Nation. There are a few changes in this Haggadah. The traditional four sons (wise, wicked, simple, and one who does not know how to ask) are changed to The Four Children (wise, defiant, uncomplicated, and the one who does not ask). And a couple of the songs are sung to popular songs such as Take Me Out to the Ballgame, making this Haggadah one a child can not only relate to more easily, but feel more apart of and understand.
The Family (and Frog!) Haggadah is a kid-friendly Haggadah full of frog-surprises. As you complete the steps of the seder, Frog pops up to add comments, wise-cracks, games, puns, and interesting questions. He also makes costume changes to fit into the spread or add to his comment. In one section, Frog wears yellow-polka dotted blue swimming trunks, and in another, a purple t-shirt asking, “got grape juice?” Kids will love Frog’s enthusiasm, craziness, and ability to enlighten a serious occasion.
Like traditional Hebrew, The Family (and Frog!) Haggadah is read from right to left, meaning the book may seem to have been printed backwards. It wasn’t. Much of the actual seder is also in Hebrew, with the English translation alongside the Hebrew. If you are looking for a Haggadah that will bring your children into the seder enlightened and eager, The Family (and Frog !) Haggadah may just be the right fit for your next Seder.

THE FAMILY (AND FROG!) HAGGADAH. Text copyright © 2017 by Rabbi Ron Isaacs and Karen Rostoker-Gruber. Illustrations copyright © 2017 by Jackie Urbanovic. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Behrman House, Springfield, NJ.

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Downloadable Activities for Teachers and Librarians are HERE.

AWARDS
2016 Outstanding Children’s Literature Award from the Church and Synagogue Library Association

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Illustrations from THE FAMILY (AND FROG!) HAGGADAH by Rabbi Ron Isaacs and Karen Rostoker-Gruber copyright © 2017 by Jackie Urbanovic. Used with permission from Behrman House.

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Copyright © 2017 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved

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The Family (and Frog!) Haggadah
Written by Rabbi Ron Isaacs and Karen Rostoker-Gruber
Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
Behrman House 2/15/2017
9780874419375

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