ALL WHO ARE HUNGRY, COME AND EAT!

A creative interpretation of a passage read on Passover imploring all who are hungry to partake of the feast.

Ethan laments his family’s small seder; this year, only he, his parents, and their poodle will be in attendance. Still, they gather around the end of a very long table and start the service, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. No, it isn’t the prophet Elijah—it’s their neighbor, whose plans fell through. Subsequent knocks reveal relatives and even a cat and a chicken, all of whom come bearing food and who are invited in—after all, as Ethan’s mother points out, “The Haggadah says, ‘Let all who are hungry come and eat.’” The last guest is a large bear who initially causes a bit of consternation yet peacefully joins the others. Kimmelman’s lively text will make readers feel just as welcome, deftly conveying the ceremonial parts of the meal through rhyming phrases. Russell’s sunny illustrations feature characters observing a variety of Jewish customs and enjoying different foods, among them haroset, potato tzimmes, and gefilte fish. Background details make for enticing scenes that readers will pore over. Backmatter includes a recipe for haroset that includes different cultural variations. Ethan and his mother are tan-skinned, while his father is pale-skinned; other characters vary in skin tone. Multiple characters, including several animals, wear head coverings.

A joyful tale that speaks to the power of community.