Sammy Spider's First Bar Mitzvah - Softcover

Rouss, Sylvia A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1467794120 ISBN 13: 9781467794121

Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing ®, 2016

Synopsis

Josh's cousin Ben is having his bar mitzvah, and Sammy accidentally ends up coming along! He gets an up-close view of the Torah readings, the blessings . . . and one tradition that gets this silly little spider into even more trouble than usual.

About this title

About the Author:

Sylvia A. Rouss is an award-winning author and early childhood educator, and the creator of the popular Sammy Spider series, celebrating its 25th anniversary with over half a million Sammy Spider books sold. She lives in California.

Katherine Janus Kahn studied Fine Arts at the Bezalel School in Jerusalem and at the University of Iowa. She has illustrated many children's books including Kar-Ben's popular Sammy Spider series. She lives in Wheaton, Maryland.

Review:

"Josh’s family is invited to cousin Ben’s bar mitzvah, and as usual, Sammy Spider is curious. The sentient arachnid manages to stow away, first in the family’s tallit bag and later in Mr. Shapiro’s jacket pocket,
providing Sammy (and readers) with a close-up view of all the proceedings. Sammy describes the prayers, singing, carrying of and reading from the Torah that he observes, as well as the congregation joyfully
showering Ben with small candies to wish him a sweet life filled with Torah and good deeds. Rouss’ well-established series has become the go-to source for introducing Jewish holidays and customs to the very
young. Kahn’s collage artwork hits just the right note for the intended audience―colorful, fun, and uncluttered, while staying informative and respectful in tone. As well, this fills a niche for this age group, and the emphasis on religious significance rather than partying will please observant families. Pair this with Isabel Pinson’s Bubbe’s Belated Bat Mitzvah (2014) to complete the celebration."―Booklist

(Journal)

"Everyone's favorite little spider is back with a new adventure and a new topic with which to educate young readers and listeners about Jewish life and culture. This latest escapade lands him at Josh's cousin's bar mitzvah where he watches the proceedings with great interest. He learns, as does the reader, about the synagogue rituals, both religious, such as the Torah reading, and fun, such as tossing candy in the direction of the bar mitzvah celebrant. As many very young children have never seen a bar mitzvah up close, this is a good topic for the age group. As usual, Sammy flirts with danger but is saved before disaster strikes and he returns at the end to his mother and his web to prepare (we hope) for further adventures.

This is the seventeenth book in the by now iconic series featuring endearing Sammy, his wise mother and the traditional Shapiro family. Katherine Janus Kahn's bright, bold, cheery pictures evoke smiles and combine with Sylvia Rouss' clever plots and clear to-the-point story-telling to meld into excellent picture book unity. The reader knows what to expect, can chant familiar lines, and is never disappointed but always comes away learning something new.

Recommended for ages 5 – 8."--Jewish Book Council

(Website)

About this edition

• Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing ®
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1467794120
• ISBN 13: 9781467794121
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Kahn Katherine Janus