More Than Enough: A Passover Story by April Halprin Wayland, illustrated by Katie Kath; Dial Books for Young Readers © 2016; ISBN 978-0-8037-4126-3; $16.99.
By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — We received at San Diego Jewish World a book to be read to children that either came to our mailbox quite late or extremely early. In More Than Enough: A Passover Story, writer April Halprin Wayland draws an analogy between the many favors God did for the Israelites during the Exodus and the many blessings bestowed upon children by warm and loving parents.
With enjoyable drawings in pastel color by Katie Kath, we watch as mommy takes her children shopping for charoset ingredients, and then agrees to bring home a kitten from the animal shelter. A light rain falls enabling the children to splash through the puddles before their daddy greets the children at the doorstep of their home. Together the family makes the charoset from apples, walnuts and grape juice, followed by the children taking bubble baths and getting ready for Passover seder at their grandma’s house.
There, with cousins their age, the children identify the ingredients on the Pesach plate; ask the Four Questions; eat a big, filling dinner; search for the afikomen; open the door for Elijah; sing Chad Gadya; and soon fall asleep on grandma’s lap as she rocks them on a rocking chair to the sound of a gentle rain falling outside. “Dayenu … Dayenu…. Dayenu!” the story concludes.
Even if it’s currently out of season, this is the kind of book that one can put away until the approach of next Passover to be read to young children to help them get ready for the season. The lyrics and music to the “Dayenu” song are printed on one of the back pages.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
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