More Than Enough - Hardcover

Wayland, April Halprin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 080374126X ISBN 13: 9780803741263

Publisher: Dial Books, 2016

Synopsis

A family's Passover celebration is equal parts warmth and charm in this cozy picture book, with the traditional seder song “Dayenu” as the grateful refrain.
 
In this story told in spare, lyrical prose, a Jewish family prepares for their Passover seder, visiting the farmer's market for walnuts, lilacs, and honey (and adopting a kitten along the way!), then chopping apples for the charoset, and getting dressed up before walking to Nana's house. The refrain throughout is “Dayenu”—a mind-set of thankfulness, a reminder to be aware of the blessings in each moment. At Nana's, there's matzo ball soup, chicken, coconut macaroons, and of course, the hidden afikomen. After opening the door for Elijah and singing the verses of “Chad Gadya,”Nana tucks the children in for a special Passover sleepover.
 
This warm, affectionate story embraces Passover in the spirit of dayenu, and offers a comprehensive glossary—it’s a perfect read for the entire family in anticipation and celebration of the holiday.

About this title

About the Author

April Halprin Wayland is the author of several picture books, including New Year at the Pier and the young adult novel-in-verse Girl Coming in for a Landing, which won both the Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor Award for Children’s Poetry and the Myra Cohn Livingston Award. She lives in Los Angeles.
 
Katie Kath holds an MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and lives in the rolling hills of North Carolina with her husband and their cat. This is her first picture book.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—There is a beloved Passover song with a chorus that repeats the Hebrew word dayenu, meaning "it would have been enough," in gratitude for the biblical Exodus. This picture book shines a spotlight on that attitude of gratitude, reminding us, as the author's note says, to be "aware of and grateful for the blessings in each moment." Readers follow a family getting ready for Passover and observe their thankfulness for the simple joys of visiting the market and experiencing the rain and the more unique blessings of adopting a kitten and joining Nana for the seder. Upbeat declarations are concise and rhythmic. Every page is capped by the word dayenu, which is set apart in a large red hand-written font for emphasis. The family's healthy awareness extends well before and after the holiday, and the story concludes with a cozy, postseder evening at Nana's. Like the text, the artwork is sweet, with a light touch. Cheerful scenes are full of gentle color and movement. The neighborhood market is hip and diverse, although the featured family is "traditional" (mom, dad, son, daughter) and white. Their dress style shows that the Jewish family is not Orthodox. While a glossary is included at the end and a small note defines dayenu on the dedication page, the seder plate, the afikomen hunt, the prophet Elijah, and other elements of the holiday are mentioned casually and without explanation. VERDICT A pleasant and extremely satisfying story for readers already familiar with Passover.—Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Edition details

• Publisher: Dial Books
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 080374126X
• ISBN 13: 9780803741263
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Kath Katie
• Number of pages: 40