The Five Best Children’s Books for Purim
There are a lot of mediocre Purim books. That’s because there are a lot of mediocre books about everything. (What’s Sturgeon’s Law again? Ninety percent of everything is crap?) But here are a few selections that aren’t just good Purim stories, they’re good story-stories.
The Story of Esther: A Purim Tale by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Jill Weber, was on my list of the best Jewish Children’s Books of 2011. I was surprised at how much Maxie, then 6, loved it. She pored over the lush illustrations—a mix of gouache, acrylic, tempera, watercolor and pencil—while I appreciated the non-showy, non-cutesy, matter-of-fact narration of the Purim story. As I wrote in Tablet, “It’s a sophisticated but still kid-friendly retelling, dramatic and immersive. It is brilliantly colored and folk-arty, with Moorish flair. I love watching Maxie study the painting contrasting Esther’s simple ponytail and outfit with the ungapatchka looks of the painted ladies of the royal court.” It’s a great intro to the holiday for those who aren’t all that familiar with it.
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