Sylvia A. Rouss

That curious little arachnid, Sammy Spider, returns in this Simchat Torah story, observing the human Shapiro family once again, and asking his mother about the meaning of their actions. Watching Josh listen to his favorite story, about the creation of the world, Sammy too becomes caught up in the tale, and is fascinated by the little Torah the human boy brings home. He watches as Mrs. Shapiro makes candy apples, and inadvertently tags along as the whole family head to the synagogue, where show more they mark the joyous occasion in the Jewish calendar, when the year-long reading of the Torah comes to an end, only to begin again...

Not being Jewish, I did not grow up aware of the significance of Simchat Torah, which begins tonight (October 10th, 2020) at sundown, and lasts until tomorrow night. I first encountered it in Elsa Okon Rael's lovely picture-book, When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street, although I have not since encountered many children's stories devoted to the subject. I was glad therefore, to stumble across Sammy Spider's First Simchat Torah, which is the third story about this little arachnid that I have read and enjoyed. Like the others, it pairs a simple story, one in which a Jewish holiday is explained to the curious Sammy, with colorful cut-paper illustrations. There is even a recipe here for candy apples! Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories about Simchat Torah, as well as to fans of Sammy Spider and his boundless curiosity. If only his mother would stop calling him 'silly,' for wanting to learn more! show less

Sammy Spider questions his mother about the curious actions of the Shapiros, the human family whose house also provides him a home, in this holiday picture-book. She explains that the Shapiros are celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and the two arachnids observe the humans putting out cards they have received, making challah, slicing apples, setting out honey, and going off to synagogue for services...

In 1993 author Sylvia A. Rouss and illustrator Katherine Janus Kahn published show more Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah, the first of many picture-book devoted to the curious spider's discovery of various Jewish holidays. Sammy Spider's First Rosh Hashanah is the third in that series, but the first I have picked up. It featured a simple but engaging look at the customs of this time in the Jewish calendar, and appealing collage-style artwork. I had encountered Kahn's work before, in Carol Levin's A Rosh Hashanah Walk, where I was not at all impressed, but her style here is quite different to that in the other book. I enjoyed the use of color here, and the folk-art sensibility, and will definitely track down more books in this series. Recommended to picture-book readers interested in Rosh Hashanah. show less

I liked the book Sammy Spider’s First Passover because of the perspective and the humor. The book is from Sammy’s point of view, and he is very curious about the Shapiro family’s celebration of Passover, wondering if he will participate in the Passover. His mother keeps saying, “Spiders don’t celebrate Passover.” Sammy asks questions that a child would ask, and his mother gives him answers by explaining the preparations and traditions of Passover. Sammy’s excitement shows in show more much of the text; for example, when the Jewish boy was looking for the hidden matzah (afikomen), the author writes, “Sammy wished he could help, but he remembered his mother’s words.” I also enjoyed the book because of the interesting humor. Sammy’s mother teaches him how to spin a web using different shapes. At the end, Sammy spins a Jewish star right above the afikomen to help the boy find it. After all this occurred, Sammy tells his mother, “You make a square, a circle, and a triangle. Then you PASS OVER with another triangle. That’s how spiders celebrate Passover!” The main message of the story is what Passover is, describing the various customs and traditions involved; it also includes how Passover brings unity and warmth to a family. show less

Sammy Spider, that curious little arachnid who lived with his mother in the home of the human Shapiro family, and whose adventures began in 1993 with Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah, returns in this engaging Sukkot picture-book. Once again observing the Shapiros, Sammy learns about the Jewish harvest festival, watching as the humans build and use their sukkah, a temporary outdoor hut meant to represent the structures used by ancient farmers at this time of year. Charmed by this lovely show more building, Sammy convinces his mother to spend the night under the stars, hanging from a web they have woven from the sukkah's roof...

The second story about Sammy Spider I have read, following upon Sammy Spider's First Rosh Hashanah, Sammy Spider's First Sukkot offers an engaging look at how the eponymous festival is observed. It pairs a simple but engaging story from author Sylvia A. Rouss with appealing collage-style artwork from illustrator Katherine Janus Kahn. Although this is not a book to use to explain the meaning and history of Sukkot, but rather one which celebrates the practices associated with the festival, it does describe the shaking of the lulav, and how this indicates that the presence of God is all around us, in every direction. I appreciated that fact, and I also enjoyed the bright, autumnal colors of the artwork. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for Sukkot stories, and to fans of Sammy Spider. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for Sukkot stories, and to fans of Sammy Spider. show less