It's Purim Time!

Publishers Weekly

The Jewish festival of Purim (March 25) takes center stage in a preschool classroom in this photo-essay introduction to the history and customs surrounding the celebration in It's Purim Time! by Latifa Berry Kropf, photos by Tod Cohen. This solid team, which also paired up for It's Hanukkah Time! and others in the holiday series, captures kids at their smiliest or deep in concentration as they make King Ahashuerus's crown, or Mordechai's beard for a play telling the heroic story of Queen Esther, who saved the Jews from evil Haman's death order. Ideas and instructions for crafts and snacks are included. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

PreS-Large, color photographs show students in a Jewish preschool participating in a variety of activities as they prepare to celebrate Purim. Individual children are shown making a crown for King Ahashuerus, a beard for Mordechai, a necklace for Queen Esther, and a mustache for Haman. Others choose costumes from the dress-up corner. Groggers (noisemakers) are made from soda cans filled with birdseed and decorated with colored paper, stickers, and marker. As the teacher reads the story of Queen Esther, the children shake their groggers at each mention of Haman's name. A snack of tri-cornered hamantaschen (cookies) is eaten, decorated bags of food are distributed, and the class poses for a Purim portrait. The craft project and a very brief explanation of the holiday are appended. One or two simple sentences of text per page in extra-large type provide a caption for each photo. Purim offers an attractive, appealing introduction to a holiday that children love to celebrate.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.