Review Detail

Ellis Island Passover connects one child to the not-so-distant past of her relatives. The child has had disagreements with her siblings and isn’t in the mood for the big Passover celebration with her extended family until her Uncle Ezra tells her of his first Passover in America. His story connects her back to her family and reminds her that a great barrier was faced to escape violence and come to a land of opportunity. The story has long text per page, making it a better fit for older children. The topic feels especially poignant in the political climate toward immigrants in 2025 and is a more important read than ever to imagine and understand the plight of immigrants who have faced violence and are seeking the land of opportunity like most of our ancestors did at some point. The illustrations are a bit simple but do fine, complementing the text. The family is Jewish and celebrates a Jewish tradition during the story, but the emphasis is more on immigration than learning about the holiday.