Spider’s First Sukkot.
Kar-Ben Publishing. 2004.
This book is one of many Sammy Spider stories. In this book, Sammy Spider is watching the Shapiro family prepare for the Jewish harvest holiday of Sukkot. Throughout the book Sammy repeatedly says “spiders don’t celebrate Sukkot, spiders spin webs”. Sammy and his mother build a web in the sukkah. Although Sammy is a spider he gets to celebrate Sukkot after all.
This book is filled with large, colorful, creative pictures which bring the story to life. The illustrator, Katherine Janus Kahn, did a great job, by using paper cutouts, to allow the reader to feel as though they were a part of the Sukkot holiday during the crisp fall season. The author, Sylvia Rouss, chose simple but descriptive words in order to explain to the readers exactly what happens in a sukkah. It is as though the readers are right there with Sammy Spider watching over the Shapiro family as they celebrate Sukkot. I feel that this is a very clever way for children to learn about a new holiday. The book does a great job describing why Jewish people celebrate Sukkot as well as explaining the traditions and symbolism in the sukkah. One important thing to keep in mind while choosing to read this book is the target audience. I feel as though any child would enjoy this book. Jewish children can read it in order to learn about their own holiday and others can read it to learn about the Jewish religion, just as Sammy Spider was able to do! -CA
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