Reviews of New Books, Films and CDs

 REVIEWS BY SOPHIE

BOOKS

The Purim Superhero is a picture book about a boy named Nate who doesn't know what he should dress up as for Purim. His friend Max tells him that all of the boys are going to dress up as superheroes, but Nate would rather be an alien. He doesn't know what to do because he really likes aliens, but he doesn't want to be the only boy that's not dressed up as a superhero. Nate decides to be a Super Alien! Nate's two dads and his sister help him to make his costume, which wins the Most Original prize at the costume parade at his temple. I liked this picture book because I thought it was a good story and the artwork is a mix of collage and drawing which I really liked. I would recommend this book for ages 4-9.    

DVDs

Shalom Sesame: It's Passover Time
Shalom Sesame is like Sesame Street except it takes place in Israel during a Jewish holiday. This episode takes place during Passover. Grover, Avigail, and Anneliese are trying to find horseradish to put on the seder plate, but all of the stores are closed for passover. In the end they can convince Moishe Oofnik to give them his horseradish. This episode also includes two stories about how kids from Ethiopia and from Morocco celebrate Passover and counting to four in Hebrew with The Count. It also has the song "Matzah in the House" to the tune of "Master of the House" from Les Miserables and children singing the four questions. I think that ages 3-7 would like this episode because it involves a lot of fun songs that they would like. It also explains the things that you would do on Passover and during the seder.

The Seder on Planet Matzah Ball
The Seder on Planet Matzah Ball is about Jewish aliens who live on the planet Matzah Ball. When a book explaining Passover lands on their planet they decide to celebrate the holiday. They follow the instructions to set up their Seder, but they are missing a leader. They need someone who will tell the story of Passover.  Oogy (a 9-year-old alien who lives on Planet Matzah Ball) decides to fly his spaceship to planet Earth to find a leader. He ends up in Cleveland, Ohio where a family is celebrating Passover. Oogy joins in on their Seder, but when it is time for him to leave he still has not found a leader. Then his new friend Jenna tells him that he can be the leader of his family's Seder because now he knows the story of leaving Egypt. This video is similar to The Muppets because it is told with puppets. I think that ages 4-9 would like this video because the story of Passover is explained in songs and with animation.

All reviews are written by Sophie, an 8th grade student in our Education Program.