Talia and the Passover Hug-gadah by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Illustrated by Francesca Assirelli; Kar-Ben Publishing; © 2026; ISBN 9798765-693902; 32 pages; $19.99; Publication date Jan. 6, 2026
By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
Talia and her family are getting ready for their Passover Seder. Grandma hands Talia the Haggadahs. Talia places them on the table and thinks, “Hug-gadah is a funny name for a book!”
When Grandpa begins the Seder, Talia keeps waiting for the hugs to start. She listens closely, wondering when it will be time.
Talia’s cousin recites the Four Questions in Hebrew and English. But Talia has her own Four Questions: Who gets hugs? When do we hug? Where do we hug? And most of all—why is this book called the Hug-gadah?
The Seder continues with songs, stories, and food. Still, Talia doesn’t see any hugging. At the end of the night, she curls up next to Grandma and asks why the Passover books are about hugging if there is no hugging at all.
Grandma giggles and explains the real name of the book—but tells Talia how much she loves her hugs.
This sweet story is written for a first grade reading level. It’s a quick and charming read that younger children will enjoy. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and playful, making the story even more fun. My own kids would have loved this book when they were little.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.