Elementary Secondary Higher Ed Common Reads

Elementary Education


Guides
Collections
News
(0)
Wish List (0)
Wish List
Download high-resolution image

The Passover Guest

Author Susan Kusel
Illustrated by Sean Rubin
Paperback
$8.99 US
Holiday House | Neal Porter Books
8.5"W x 10.97"H x 0.13"D  
On sale Jan 02, 2024 | 40 Pages | 978-0-8234-5322-1
| Preschool - 3
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies
See Additional Formats
Muriel's family can't afford a Passover seder this year— but an act of kindness and a mysterious stranger change everything.

It's the spring of 1933 in Washington, D.C., and the Great Depression is hitting young Muriel's family hard. Her father has lost his job, and her family barely has enough food for their daily meals, let alone for a Passover seder. They don't even have any wine to fill the prophet Elijah's ceremonial cup.

With no feast to rush home to, Muriel wanders by the Lincoln Memorial, where she encounters a magician performing astonishing feats. In awe, Muriel sets her last penny at his feet. 

That night, Muriel and her family experience a holiday miracle. What mysterious benefactor has filled the seder table? When Muriel sees Elijah's cup is empty again, she has a good idea.

This fresh retelling of the classic I.L. Peretz story, best known through Uri Shulevitz's 1973 adaptation The Magician, has been richly illustrated by noted graphic novelist Sean Rubin, who based his art on photographs of D.C. in the 1930s. An author's note with information about the Passover holiday is included.

An Association of Jewish Libraries Spring Holiday Highlight
A Booklist Editors' Choice
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the Year
Susan Kusel is a synagogue librarian and children's book buyer for an independent bookstore. She has served as a member of the Caldecott Medal selection committee and the chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. The Passover Guest is Kusel's first picture book. She lives in Arlington, VA.

Sean Rubin has illustrated several books for children. He wrote and illustrated the graphic novel Bolivar, which was nominated for an Eisner award and is being adapted into a feature film with Fox Studios. He also illustrated The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The Story of Alan Bean by Dean Robbins. Rubin studied art and archeology at Princeton University. He lives in Charleston, VA.
Susan Kusel View titles by Susan Kusel
Sean Rubin View titles by Sean Rubin
  • WINNER | 2022
    Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
  • SELECTION | 2022
    Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
  • SELECTION | 2022
    Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
  • SELECTION | 2021
    Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choice
  • SELECTION | 2021
    CSMCL Best Books
★ "Filled with references to the holiday and accompanying traditions, this is a superb addition to modern celebrations. . . . Kusel’s charming debut is a necessary volume for every holiday collection."—School Library Journal, Starred Review
 
★ "Rubin's digitally enhanced graphite illustrations are rendered in the style of Chagall in terms of color (blues and greens, accented in yellow), lighting, windows, and even a few chickens. . . . Among the many Passover titles, this one stands out, full of hope and heart and set in a historical context that will resonate today."—Booklist, Starred Review

★ "Rubin’s line-and-color art beautifully conveys a Washington, D.C., spring with cherry blossoms blooming, crowded streets that also evoke a long-ago, slightly off-kilter European town, and a gloriously bright holiday evening. Kindness is rewarded and a holiday is celebrated in this endearing, satisfying story."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"With its warm, forthright narrative and beautifully evoked setting, this book is an enchanting addition to the Passover shelf."—Publishers Weekly
 
"In the book's stunning mixed-media art, each double-page spread conveys emotion through color and light. . . . While there have been several adaptations of Peretz's tale (e.g., Shulevitz's The Magician), this version's message of hope during dark times feels especially relevant now, and the young protagonist and vividly depicted setting make the story accessible to picture-book audiences." —The Horn Book

"Kusel's adaptation preserves the wonder of a holiday that always captivates children who yearn to lay eyes on Elijah or at least witness a sign that he has indeed visited during their Passover Seder. . . .  this is a wonderful story about hope." — AJL News and Reviews

About

Muriel's family can't afford a Passover seder this year— but an act of kindness and a mysterious stranger change everything.

It's the spring of 1933 in Washington, D.C., and the Great Depression is hitting young Muriel's family hard. Her father has lost his job, and her family barely has enough food for their daily meals, let alone for a Passover seder. They don't even have any wine to fill the prophet Elijah's ceremonial cup.

With no feast to rush home to, Muriel wanders by the Lincoln Memorial, where she encounters a magician performing astonishing feats. In awe, Muriel sets her last penny at his feet. 

That night, Muriel and her family experience a holiday miracle. What mysterious benefactor has filled the seder table? When Muriel sees Elijah's cup is empty again, she has a good idea.

This fresh retelling of the classic I.L. Peretz story, best known through Uri Shulevitz's 1973 adaptation The Magician, has been richly illustrated by noted graphic novelist Sean Rubin, who based his art on photographs of D.C. in the 1930s. An author's note with information about the Passover holiday is included.

An Association of Jewish Libraries Spring Holiday Highlight
A Booklist Editors' Choice
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the Year

Author

Susan Kusel is a synagogue librarian and children's book buyer for an independent bookstore. She has served as a member of the Caldecott Medal selection committee and the chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. The Passover Guest is Kusel's first picture book. She lives in Arlington, VA.

Sean Rubin has illustrated several books for children. He wrote and illustrated the graphic novel Bolivar, which was nominated for an Eisner award and is being adapted into a feature film with Fox Studios. He also illustrated The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The Story of Alan Bean by Dean Robbins. Rubin studied art and archeology at Princeton University. He lives in Charleston, VA.
Susan Kusel View titles by Susan Kusel
Sean Rubin View titles by Sean Rubin

Awards

  • WINNER | 2022
    Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
  • SELECTION | 2022
    Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
  • SELECTION | 2022
    Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
  • SELECTION | 2021
    Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choice
  • SELECTION | 2021
    CSMCL Best Books

Praise

★ "Filled with references to the holiday and accompanying traditions, this is a superb addition to modern celebrations. . . . Kusel’s charming debut is a necessary volume for every holiday collection."—School Library Journal, Starred Review
 
★ "Rubin's digitally enhanced graphite illustrations are rendered in the style of Chagall in terms of color (blues and greens, accented in yellow), lighting, windows, and even a few chickens. . . . Among the many Passover titles, this one stands out, full of hope and heart and set in a historical context that will resonate today."—Booklist, Starred Review

★ "Rubin’s line-and-color art beautifully conveys a Washington, D.C., spring with cherry blossoms blooming, crowded streets that also evoke a long-ago, slightly off-kilter European town, and a gloriously bright holiday evening. Kindness is rewarded and a holiday is celebrated in this endearing, satisfying story."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"With its warm, forthright narrative and beautifully evoked setting, this book is an enchanting addition to the Passover shelf."—Publishers Weekly
 
"In the book's stunning mixed-media art, each double-page spread conveys emotion through color and light. . . . While there have been several adaptations of Peretz's tale (e.g., Shulevitz's The Magician), this version's message of hope during dark times feels especially relevant now, and the young protagonist and vividly depicted setting make the story accessible to picture-book audiences." —The Horn Book

"Kusel's adaptation preserves the wonder of a holiday that always captivates children who yearn to lay eyes on Elijah or at least witness a sign that he has indeed visited during their Passover Seder. . . .  this is a wonderful story about hope." — AJL News and Reviews

Additional formats

Related Articles
education translanguaging collections affirming bilingual and multilingual learners
General Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series The Arts

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

General Education & Professional Learning English Language Arts Favorite Authors & Series The Arts
education classroom libraries the heart and soul of any curriculum
General Early Concepts English Language Arts Science & Technology The Arts

PRH Education Classroom Libraries

“Books are a students’ passport to entering and actively participating in a global society with the empathy, compassion, and knowledge it takes to become the problem solvers the world needs.” –Laura Robb   Research shows that reading and literacy directly impacts students’ academic success and personal growth. To help promote the importance of daily independent

Read more

PRH Education Classroom Libraries

General Early Concepts English Language Arts Science & Technology The Arts

About Elementary Education

Penguin Random House Education

Penguin Random House

About Elementary Education

Penguin Random House Education

Penguin Random House

Back to Top
0
    • 0
    Elementary Education
    Wish List (0)