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Passover for Kids

We hope this page helps your family navigating the Passover holiday. Sign up for PJ Library to receive free monthly children’s books and activities that introduce Jewish holidays, values, and traditions and help your family strengthen its connection to Jewish life.

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is an eight-day spring holiday that celebrates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. The Passover story comes from the first half of the Book of Exodus in the Bible. In those pages we read of the Jewish people’s plight under slavery in Egypt, and their subsequent escape to freedom.

If you're celebrating Passover for the first time, need a refresher on a few traditions, or just want to know more about the history of the holiday, visit our introduction to Passover here.

For more information about Passover, including recipes, book lists, activities, and more, check out the sections below:

Passover Story
Kids at the Seder
Activities
Recipes
Videos
Book Lists
The River Ride

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THE PASSOVER STORY

Because there is explicit suffering and death in the Passover narrative, it is not an easy story to tell. You can find a child-friendly version linked below.

The Passover Story for Kids Ages 6+

For centuries, families have used a book called the Haggadah, to tell the story of Passover and pass down the traditions and lessons of the story to their children, relatives, and friends. The word haggadah literally means “telling.” Families everywhere add their own personal touches to make the script of the haggadah their own.

Related: Learn the Music in the Haggadah

The new PJ Library Family Haggadah is beautifully illustrated and will make any seder more family-friendly. Limited number of sets were available for PJ Library families. If you’d like additional copies or a set for your family, please visit Kar-Ben Publishing.

For other kid-friendly Haggadot, check out: 5 Short & Sweet Kid-Friendly Haggadot

Scroll down to find activity ideas for getting kids involved during the seder.

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KIDS AND THE SEDER

The main ritual of Passover is the seder, a carefully choreographed meal held on the first two evenings of the holiday. The seder is designed to provoke questions from children and to provide an opportunity for telling the story of how the Israelites were redeemed from slavery and given the gift of the Torah.
Here are some great ways to involve kids during the seder:

5 Ideas for a Child-Friendly Seder
Acting It Out: An Awesome Kid-Friendly Seder Idea
Getting Kids Involved During Passover
Planning a Child-Friendly Seder
Printable Paper Passover Scene
Teaching Kids to Say the Four Questions

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ACTIVITIES

10 Things to Make With Matzah Boxes
Hiding the Afikomen
How to Make Your Own Haggadah via MyJewishLearning
Printable Passover Question Catcher
More on our Pinterest board!

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RECIPES

25 Easy Passover Recipes Your Family Will Love
9 Passover Lunch Ideas for Kids
Charoset Breakfast Balls
Chicken Soup Meatballs
How to Make Your Own Matzah
Make Your Own Charoset Bar
Matzah Bruschetta
Matzah Toffee Truffles
Ricotta Breakfast Crisps
Roasted Broccoli With Matzah Crumbs
The Passover Breakfast Recipe You Need
Tomato Soup with Cheesy Matzah Crisps
Zucchini and Eggplant Gratin
Layered Parfait
Portable Salad
Ginger Chicken Meatballs
Chicken Skewers with Avocado Dip
Fluffy Frittata

More:
50 Passover Recipes via What Jew Wanna Eat
Kid-Friendly Snacks for Passover via kveller.com
Passover & Easter Southern Dry Rub Brisket via InterfaithFamily.com

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BOOK LISTS

Looking for a good book to read to get ready for Passover? Check out the following book lists:
7 Passover Books to Read With Your Preschooler
10 Children's Books About Freedom
11 Books That Feature Kids Helping at Passover
11 Delicious Books About Traditional Passover Foods
A Book List About Welcoming Guests
Four PJ Our Way Books to Read During Passover

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VIDEOS & MUSIC

Set a seder plate, ask the Four Questions, and more:

The Shaboom! Passover Special via BimBam

Learn the Four Questions via BimBam

How to Set the Seder Plate via MyJewishLearning

How to Make Guests Feel Welcome via BimBam

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Get ready for Passover with our special PJ Library Spotify playlist:

Download the PJ Library Radio app for more music and playlists.

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THE RIVER RIDE

Watch this video to follow along with your copy of the River Ride

What is the River Ride?

The Passover story is one of the greatest stories every told, a journey from slavery to freedom. The PJ Library River Ride is a special add-in with the March 2019 books. This fun activity helps your family bring the Passover story to life as you travel up and down the Nile River, encountering Passover scenes and characters.

How Do You Use It?

First you'll pick a rider from the Passover Story in Ten Scenes booklet. Float your rider down the Nile River, or place it next to any scene. Use the booklet or video above to tell the story of Passover. Use the River Ride to prepare for Passover or feature it at the seder as a table centerpiece or spread out on a carpet for story time. Children can also search for hidden matzah in the River Ride artwork.

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Sign up for PJ Library to receive free monthly children’s books and activities that introduce Jewish holidays, values, and traditions and help your family strengthen its connection to Jewish life.

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