Sammy Spider’s First Passover, by Sylvia Rousse

A young spider makes a special contribution to a family’s Passover seder. Publishers Weekly In this seasonal follow-up to Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah, the eager arachnid’s mother teaches him to make a web when theirs is laid waste by a “monster”a broom being used to ready the Shapiros’ home for Passover. Though Sammy becomes fascinated by his mother’s explanations of the holiday traditions, he is repeatedly told, “Spiders don’t celebrate Passover. Spiders spin webs.” Following instructions, Sammy completes a new weband participates in the Shapiro family observance after all. Using cut-paper artwork made festive with cheery patterns, Kahn depicts a contemporary human family (complete with kitty), and a mother-son spider duo reminiscent of Eric Carle’s creations. Though Rouss’s text is lively and informative, her attempts to blend Passover basics with a rudimentary lesson on shapes (the first page terms this “a book of shapes”) become somewhat jumbled and ultimately water down both aspects of the story. Ages 3-7. Paperback, 32 pages, isbn 9780929371825