La gran sorpresa de Pésaj

K-Gr 2–This vibrantly illustrated picture book uses mixed media to depict a family’s trip to Argentina for Passover. Jordanita, Benja, and their parents travel from ­Miami to Argentina to visit their aunt, uncle, and cousin, who have a menagerie of pets, ­including two parrots in a cage, Tic and Toc. As the families prepare for Passover dinner, the parrots can be seen on many of the pages. Once everyone is seated for dinner, the adults engage the children in discussions about Passover traditions, including the significance of matzah. Then they sing Dayenu (“It would have been enough” in ­Hebrew). After the conversation about freedom, Jordanita opens Tic and Toc’s cage, setting them free. When an aunt finds the cage empty, the family searches in vain until Jordanita confesses. ­Jordanita’s father gently explains that ­animals should not be released into the wild if they are not native to the region or have lived their lives in captivity. This translation of the ­simultaneously published The Passover Pet Surprise is illustrated with a vibrant and brightly colored palette done in mixed ­media. The two families have light skin. ­