Sammy Spider's First Simchat Torah

by Sylvia A Rouss, Katherine Janus Kahn (Illustrator)

Overview

Sammy Spider crawls down his web to inspect the candy apple Josh has attached to his Simchat Torah flag. When Josh leaves for synagogue, he doesn’t notice the spider stuck to his apple! Atop Josh’s flag, Sammy joins the Simchat Torah parade, dances with the Torah, and learns about this very special holiday in the Jewish year. Young readers will learn how Simchat Torah is celebrated, as Jews finish reading their “favorite book” the Torah, and start all over again, just as Josh loves to do with his own books! A wonderful new addition to the Sammy Spider series from the team of Sylvia A. Rouss and Katherine Janus Kahn.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761339663
Publisher:	Kar-Ben Publishing (R)
Publication date:	08/01/2010
Series:	Sammy Spider's First Books
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.73(w) x 10.55(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Sylvia A. Rouss is an award-winning author and early childhood educator, and the creator of the popular Sammy Spider series, celebrating its 25th anniversary with over half a million Sammy Spider books sold. She lives in California.

Katherine Janus Kahn studied Fine Arts at the Bezalel School in Jerusalem and at the University of Iowa. She has illustrated many children's books including Kar-Ben's popular Sammy Spider series. She lives in Wheaton, Maryland.

Editorial Reviews

Sammy Spider, that curious arachnid who refuses to just spin webs, follows his boy companion Josh to a Simchat Torah service when he gets himself stuck on a syrupy candy apple atop a small Jewish flag. As in previous outings, the inquisitive spiderling learns about this important Jewish fall holiday that joyously marks the year-long completion of the reading of the Torah through parade, singing and dancing. Just as Josh likes to read his favorite book over and over again, the Jewish people like to read the Torah, their favorite story, again and again. Signature cut-paper collage art employs some lovely colors and textures, but Kahn's choice of blank blue and brown paper eyes is disconcerting, and the all-too-familiar question-and-answer pattern of this author/illustrator duo make this entry in their series feel stale. Still, there are few enough choices available on this particular celebration to allow purchasers to be too choosy. A candy-apple recipe completes the formulaic, if well-meaning, tale. (Picture book. 3-6)

From the Publisher

Sammy Spider, that curious arachnid who refuses to just spin webs, follows his boy companion Josh to a Simchat Torah service when he gets himself stuck on a syrupy candy apple atop a small Jewish flag. As in previous outings, the inquisitive spiderling learns about this important Jewish fall holiday that joyously marks the year-long completion of the reading of the Torah through parade, singing and dancing. Just as Josh likes to read his favorite book over and over again, the Jewish people like to read the Torah, their favorite story, again and again. Signature cut-paper collage art employs some lovely colors and textures, but Kahn's choice of blank blue and brown paper eyes is disconcerting, and the all-too-familiar question-and-answer pattern of this author/illustrator duo make this entry in their series feel stale. Still, there are few enough choices available on this particular celebration to allow purchasers to be too choosy. A candy-apple recipe completes the formulaic, if well-meaning, tale. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews