Jane Breskin Zalben

A catchy, clever and charming counting rhyme with delightfully delicate illustrations. But it really doesn't do to think too much about the fact that each and every creature in the book is suffering terrible social anxiety about the upcoming Butterfly Ball. The mouse is "in great distress" about her inability to find a proper dress, the other animals equally at a loss for formal wear are "sad', "heaving sighs", "mournful", or even fighting over scarce finery. Not one is actually looking show more forward to the celebration. Basically it's conveying what Professor David C. Davis, originator of the Lewis Carroll Shelf Awards, would have called a "universal" that dress - superficial appearances - are all-important and worth anguish or conflict. I love the book, but reading it aloud to my grandchildren would threaten my sanity! show less

This picture book tells the fictional story of Moses Feldman and Mohammed Hassan. They live at opposite ends of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.

One day when their mothers were shopping at the same grocery store, Moses, called Moe, met Mohammed, called Mo. The store owner thought the boys looked so much alike they might be twins, or at least cousins. They also behaved similarly (much to the consternation of their watchful mothers).

Weeks later, each family was preparing for the holidays show more - the Feldmans for Rosh Hashanah and the Hassans for Ramadan, and each mother took her son to the same park to give the antsy boys a chance to dispel some of their energy. (The author explains in a note that Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan occur at the same time roughly every thirty years.) Moe and Mo were happy to see each other, and immediately ran off to play together, with the mothers becoming frantic over their missing sons. When the mothers found them, they hugged one another, and all agreed to meet again.

The book concludes with the two families feasting together in the park. An explanation of both the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah and the Muslim holiday of Ramadan follows in an Afterword, as well as recipes for sweet treats common to each holiday.

The illustrator, Mehrdokht Amini, uses collage and a rich, vivid palette that shows Brooklyn as a colorful and lively place. Realistic touches reflect the celebration of and respect for both the differences and commonalities among cultures.

Evaluation: This lovely book might be seen as an expression of the Jewish saying, “From your lips to God’s ears.” One can only hope there are real stories like this about the fundamental sameness of all human beings to counter all the polarization and hate in the world. I was reminded of the movie "Notting Hill," when Julia Roberts, playing the Oscar-winning actress Anna Scott, tells “commoner” Hugh Grant, “I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” Moe and Mo are just two young kids, who like each other and want to play with each other. A great message for readers aged 3 and up. show less

Moses Feldman and Mohammed Hassan - the eponymous Moe and Mo - live on different ends of Flatbush Avenue, in Brooklyn New York. When the two boys find themselves at the same grocery store, accompanying their mothers, who are preparing for Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan, respectively, they become friends. Meeting again in the park, they manage to frighten their mothers, leading to a friendship between the two women as well, and between their entire families. Celebrating under the crescent moon, show more their families enjoy both Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan...

A sweet story of cross-cultural and inter-faith friendship from prolific American children's author Jane Breskin Zalben is paired with gorgeous multimedia artwork from expat Iranian illustrator Mehrdokht Amini in A Moon for Moe and Mo. The narrative encourages the reader to compare and contrast the two young boys - one Jewish, one Muslim - and to examine the ways that they differ, and more importantly, the many ways they are the same. The illustrations alternate between a dual perspective, in which the two main characters' stories are depicted on the facing pages of a two-page spread, and a unified approach, in which their stories join, and are depicted together, across both the pages of a spread. In this way, text and image work together to emphasize the central theme of two tales becoming one. Recipes for the cookies made by both mothers are included at the rear, offering young readers the opportunity (together with their parents!) of sampling the treats mentioned in the story. The only discordant note is the inclusion of the greeting "Eid Mubarak" in the text of the story, as this is a salutation used at Eid-al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, whereas the events here seems to occur at the beginning of the month. Leaving aside that error, I would highly recommend this one to anyone looking for stories about friendship across religious lines, as well as to those searching for picture-books set in Brooklyn, or featuring Rosh Hashanah and/or Ramadan. show less

Jane Breskin Zalben - whose series of picture-books about an extended bear family celebrating the Jewish holidays covers everything from Rosh Hashanah (Happy New Year, Beni) to Hannukah (Papa's Latkes) - turns her attention to Passover in this charming tale. Excited at the upcoming Seder, during which she, as the youngest child, will be responsible for asking the all-important Four Questions, Rosie joins in the holiday preparations, from collecting and burning the chametz, to welcoming her show more aunts and uncles. The Seder itself passes enjoyably, but when it comes time to open the door for the Prophet Elijah, Rosie gets a shock...

With an engaging, family-oriented narrative, and adorable illustrations, Happy Passover, Rosie is an excellent selection for young Jewish children looking for entertaining holiday fare. I'm not sure that young readers from other traditions will get as much out of it, as the narrative assumes a basic level of knowledge, and some of the customs - the collecting and burning of the chametz, the hiding and hunting for the afikomen - will be unfamiliar to them. A brief afterword, in which the contents of the Seder Plate are listed and described, and in which the Four Questions are given, in both English and Hebrew, does give some background information, but those hoping for an explanation of the holiday would do well to look elsewhere. For those already familiar with the Passover story, however, this will be a welcome little book, emphasizing the warmth of family and tradition, at an important time of the year. show less