Easter, Passover, and Other Spring Festivals

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up—Neither of these books is child-friendly. The organization and writing are more suited to textbooks and, in fact, read like them. The author has obviously done extensive research. She covers common events like Easter and Thanksgiving in various countries, but the more interesting information is in the lesser-known celebrations like Navruz, a spring festival celebrated by people of the Zoroastrian faith, and Jaanipäev, a Midsummer celebration in Estonia. Teachers and older students will find the information useful, but elementary-grade children, who are the most likely audience for the books, will find them intimidating. The good-quality, full-color photographs add much to the presentations but are not enough to carry them.—Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY