Book Review: The Passover Surprise by Janet Ruth Heller

**Complimentary products received in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are ours and ours alone**

We recently had the chance to review The Passover Surprise by Janet Ruth Heller:

About The Passover Surprise

The story follows Lisa and her little brother Jon as they participate in a stamp collecting competition. But when their father determines which child will get the new large stamp album, he bases his decision on his preconceived idea that stamp collecting is a boy’s hobby, not a girl’s hobby. Lisa has to learn how to discuss her feelings with her father in a calm and honest way. Her mother, her teacher, and her friends provide guidance to Lisa as her talk with her father and Passover, approach.

The Passover Surprise combines a Civil Rights Era backdrop and experiences from Heller’s own Jewish upbringing to illustrate issues of the time like racism and sexism.

It also includes a Discussion Guide at the back for parents and teachers and a glossary of Hebrew terms used in the book, making it a great primer for readers not yet familiar with Jewish traditions.

Out thoughts:

This is a lovely little book!  It can be read together as a family, but is also easy enough to be read independently for readers who are just starting chapter books.  It touches on several historical events and themes, making it valuable from an educational standpoint, but is entertaining as well.  Kid's will really be able to relate with the author's childhood experiences.  There are plenty of references to Jewish traditions and a helpful glossary in the back that includes words children may not be familiar with.  Overall, we really enjoyed reading The Passover Surprise!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.