Youngsters experience Seder as boundless family, fun, and kittens despite the declaration of the title and the repeated refrain “dayenu” on every page. One thing follows another at such rapid pace there is no chance to consider what would have been enough. The opening of the picture book dilutes Seder preparations with markets, colors, rescued cats and rain, leading readers to wonder at the focus and the message. Readers soon discover the carefree day is possible because grandma is doing the Seder. Once in her door, the parts of the Passover service appear in tight order, with each part considered “enough”. Children will review the important customs: nothing is explained, only listed or depicted. In rapid order we see the plate with quote “symbols of freedom” (never mind that the children who made the charoset made a symbol of slavery), the four questions, the eponymous song Dayenu, the big meal, the afikomen search, the door open for Elijah, and everyone singing Chad Gadya. The story ends with the best of times, a sleepover at grandma’s, without ever connecting the freeing of the kitten from its confining rescue shelter box to the Jews being freed from the confines of bondage. A lullaby of Eliyahu puts a big dayenu on kisses, kittens, full tummies and rain before bed in a tent. Children are going to love the Passover celebration from this slim volume even if understanding exactly what the holiday means is passed over. The book ends with a short, sound glossary and an author’s note that connects cats and the Dayenu song. Cute illustrations enliven a speedy read for ages 3 – 6.
Ellen G. Cole, a retired librarian of the Levine Library of Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles, is a past judge of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards and a past chairperson of that committee. She is a co-author of the AJL guide, Excellence in Jewish Children’s Literature. Ellen is the recipient of two major awards for contribution to Judaic Librarianship, the Fanny Goldstein Merit Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries and the Dorothy Schroeder Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries of Southern California. She is on the board of AJLSC.