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STARRED REVIEW IN KIRKUS!
THE PASSOVER MOUSEby Joy Nelkin Wieder, illustrated by Shahar Kober
November 5, 2019
The Passover Mouse received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, indicating a book of exceptional merit. The Kirkus Reviews star is one of the most prestigious designations in the publishing industry. Kirkus Reviews says: “A book that fits moving scenes, puzzles, and mice into the same story is an excellent addition to the Jewish tradition. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-7)” Read full book review >
THE BACKSTORY: The Passover Mouse
March 24, 2021
Andrew Hacket
With Passover right around the corner, I couldn’t think of a better book to feature on #TheBackstory than THE PASSOVER MOUSE. Check out what inspired @JoyWieder to write this #PB, The Passover Mouse (Doubleday Books for Young Readers). To read the entire interview, go to andrewhacket.com.
31 DAYS, 31 LISTS: 2020 Transcendent Holiday Picture Books
December 3, 2020
A Fuse #8 Production: An SLJ Blog by Elizabeth Bird
I cannot say to have seen most of what came out in 2020, but from what I did see I found a nice array of titles that I’d say are a cut above the rest. These are books that you’d be honored to pull out year after year for your holiday displays. The Passover Mouse by Joy Nelkin Wieder, ill. Shahar Kober [Holiday – Passover] To read the entire list, go to blogs.slj.com.
THE SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE: The Passover Mouse
April 15, 2020
Reviewed By: Gigi Perlman Pagliarulo
The Passover Mouse could certainly be a Sydney Taylor Award or Honor contender. The content is strong and authentic to modes of Eastern European Jewish storytelling, with a tale that has both cumulative and repetitive elements and a recognizable, shtetl setting. The plot itself, based on principles of Jewish law which could seem arcane, is deftly rendered with a light enough touch to include humor, brevity and inspiration for modern times, with a surprise ending indicative of the treasured Jewish value of feeding the hungry. Illustrator Kober’s choice to include villagers with an array of skin tones is timely and welcome and refreshing, adding another layer of thoughtfulness and quality. This is a well-rounded, accessible and enjoyable book that could easily become a perennial Passover favorite in many households and perhaps even an award-winner as well. To read the entire review, go to sydneytaylorshmooze.com.
SEATTLE BOOK REVIEW: The Passover Mouse
April 2020
Reviewed By: Jennifer Padgett
The Passover Mouse shows how amongst giving, generous spirits, togetherness and cooperation can override deep fear and frustration. It also illustrates the significance of this sacred holiday to the Jewish people. For those who are less than familiar with Jewish customs and terminology, the author includes a glossary of terms in the back of the book after concluding her story with an unpredictable and fun twist. This enlightening picture book will be a welcome literature addition for educators of young children wishing to cover holiday celebrations with richness and diversity. It may serve as a special family heirloom for those of the Jewish faith as well. To read the entire review, go to seattlebookreview.com.
READING WITH YOUR KIDS: Passover Podcast
April 8, 2020
Jed Doherty
Happy Passover! We are celebrating the First Night of Passover with a conversation with Joy Wieder. Joy is the author of the wonderful #KidLit The Passover Mouse. This is a great conversation about the Passover holiday and traditions. Nadine Poper also shares some great resources for parents. To hear the entire interview, go to readingwithyourkids.libsyn.com.
GROG: Four Questions and Picture Books for Passover
April 8, 2020
GROG Blog
We’ve rounded up some popular Passover picture books, including two that are new this year, with comments by our authors: The Passover Mouse, by Joy Nelkin Wieder. This is a well-written original Passover tale with perfect picture book ingredients – excellent writing, tension, a repeated refrain, a surprise solution, and beautiful illustrations. To read the entire review, go to groggorg.blogspot.com.
GOOD READS WITH RONA: Best Passover Books for Children – The Passover Mouse
April 6, 2020
Molly Ruttan
This playful and inspiring tale is based upon and introduces children to a passage from the Talmud, a collection of ancient rabbis’ commentaries on Jewish law. Along with delightful illustrations by Shahar Kober. To read the entire review, go to goodreadswithronna.com.
JTA: New Passover Children’s Books
April 3, 2020
Penny Schwartz
The Jewish Telegraph Agency provides the Passover Roundup of new picture books for Passover in 2020. New reads take children to Passover celebrations with googly eyed alligators in the swamps of Florida, a zero-gravity seder with a space-traveling family, and back in time to an Old World village where scurrying mice with crusts of bread may upend the start of the eight-day holiday. To read the entire review, go to jta.org.
TBR BLOG: The Passover Mouse by Joy Nelkin Wieder
March 16, 2020
Katherine Palaces Narita
Teachers: Joy would love to share her book with your students using a Flipgrid link. Your students can hear Joy read her amazing book and ask her questions until April 5th. Listen to Kate’s interview to find out how Joy received the story seed for The Passover Mouse and for writing tips for your students: teachersbooksreaders.com.
THE MAGIC THREE: WRITING, TEACHING AND CREATING: It’s All About Perspective
March 13, 2020
Kate Narita
Here are some picture books Kate’s used either in the classroom or through Flipgrid to teach perspective to her students in a fun way. Share The Passover Mouse by Joy Nelkin Wieder and Shahar Kober with your students and ask your students to write the story from the mouse’s perspective for some Friday fun. Beats reading and writing about another photocopied MCAS passage! To read the entire blog post, go to katenarita.com/blog.
JEWISH BOOKS FOR KIDS: The Passover Mouse – Joy Nelkin Wieder
March 11, 2020
Barbara Bietz
I met Joy Nelkin Wieder when we were both attendees at the TENT Workshop at The Yiddish Book Center. We had chatted about her winning manuscript and I was delighted when I learned The Passover Mouse had been published. What a charming tale with a truly satisfying ending! I couldn’t wait to learn more about Joy’s writing process. Mini spoiler! Just like The Passover Mouse, this interview has a very sweet ending. Be sure to read about Joy’s volunteer work training puppies. To read the entire interview, go to jewishbooksforkids.com.
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Joy Wieder
February 7, 2020
KidLit411
Today we are excited to feature author Joy Wieder and her debut picture book, THE PASSOVER MOUSE, illustrated by Shahar Kober (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, Jan. 2020). Enter to win a copy! To read the entire interview, go to kidlit411.com.
THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE/ARTS: New England Literary News
February 2, 2020
Nina MacLaughlin
SMALL PROBLEM
Based on a passage in the Talmud regarding mice bringing breadcrumbs into the house before Passover, when all leavened food must be removed, “The Passover Mouse” (Doubleday) a debut children’s book by Acton-based writer and artist Joy Nelkin Wieder and illustrated by Shahar Kober, tells the story of a mischievous mouse who wreaks havoc on a village’s Passover preparations. To read the entire article, go to bostonglobe.com.
JEWISHBOSTON: Read About a Mouse That You Actually Want at Your Table
January 30, 2020
Kara Baskin
Local author Joy Wieder debuts “The Passover Mouse” this week.
While mixing rodents with food might not seem appealing, this is a very cute story: Acton-based author Joy Wieder’s debut picture book, “The Passover Mouse” (Doubleday Books for Young Readers), is out this week with an inaugural reading early next month in Concord. To read the entire article, go to jewishboston.com.
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Story Times
Sunday, March 29, 10:30 AM: CANCELLED
Brookline Booksmith
279 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA
Saturday, April 4, 11:00 AM CANCELLED
Belmont Books
79 Leonard St, Belmont, MA 02478
Sunday, April 5, 11:00 AM CANCELLED
Barnes & Noble
1 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01701
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Book Launch
Sunday, February 9, 3 pm
The Concord Bookshop
65 Main Street, Concord, MA
Please join me as I present my debut picture book The Passover Mouse, a charming and witty story that weaves together the themes of community, kindness, charity, and forgiveness. There will be time for Q&A and book signing after the author presentation. Light refreshments will be served.
This event is free of charge and open to the public.
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Book Trailer Premiere
January 28, 2020
John Schu
Happy, happy, happy book birthday to Joy Nelkin Wieder and Shahar Kober’s The Passover Mouse. Joy dropped by to share The Passover Mouse‘s book trailer and to finish my sentences. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. To watch the book trailer, go to mrschureads.blogspot.com.
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Q&A in The Beacon
January 24, 2020
Patty Mahoney
Acton resident is set to release her new book for young readers
“The Passover Mouse” is children’s author and Acton resident Joy Nelkin Wieder’s new picture book. Nelkin Wieder recently took the time to answer questions about the book and what inspired her career path. To read the entire article, go to acton.wickedlocal.com.
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Jewish Book Council
January 20, 2020
Susan Kantor
The brightly colored and expressive illustrations are an energetic match for the lively story. An author’s note provides more information on the chometz debate and the book includes a glossary of terms. To read the complete review, visit jewishbookcouncil.org.
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Publishers Weekly
January 13, 2020
Publishers Weekly
Wieder’s brisk prose—punctuated by the refrain “A mouse! A mouse! Brought bread into our house!”—and Kober’s warmhearted cartooning successfully turn the story into one of community cooperation and celebration. To read the complete review, visit publishersweekly.com.
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: School Library Journal
January 1, 2020
Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Library, CT
This clever story, inspired by a discussion in the Talmud, celebrates community and friendship…The whole comes together beautifully, celebrating the Passover spirit in an appealing package. VERDICT A welcome addition to any library serving Jewish patrons. To read the complete review, visit slj.com.
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Booklist
November 15, 2019
Emily Graham
The heartwarming and humorous story, based on a passage in the Talmud, is accompanied by cheerful illustrations that bring the village and its residents to life. Jewish readers will recognize familiar concepts, non-Jewish children will receive a delightful introduction to the Passover season, and all readers will learn the beauty of community and compassion. To read the complete review, visit booklistonline.com.
INTERVIEW WITH JOY NELKIN WIEDER
December 12, 2019
Katelyn Aronson
In honor of Jewish Book Month, I’m happy to bring you this interview with Perfect 2020 PBs member Joy Nelkin Wieder. Her picture book, The Passover Mouse, illustrated by Shahar Kober, releases from Doubleday (Random House) on January 28th, 2020. To read the complete interview, visit Katelyn’s blog.
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Review
December 8, 2019
Amalia Hoffman
One of the things I like to do on my blog is review books that amaze & amuse me. Such a book is The Passover Mouse written by Joy Nelkin Wieder, Illustrated by Shahar Kober. From Doubleday Books for Young Readers. Highly recommended! To read the complete interview, visit Amalia’s blog.
CREATING A RELIGIOUS CHILDREN’S BOOK WITH JOY WIEDER
December 3, 2019
Journey to Kidlit
Writing religious children’s books is a very niche market, but one a lot of writers would like to break into. Our latest interviewee, Joy Wieder, has been writing within this market for a long time now, and she officially has her FIRST picture book debuting in 2020! If you’ve ever wanted to find a home for your story in the religious market, check out this interview!
THE PASSOVER MOUSE: Cover Reveal, Interview, & Giveaway
September 27, 2019
Justin Colón Books
Justin interviews Joy about her upcoming book The Passover Mouse in which the striking cover illustrated by Israeli artist, Shahar Kober, is revealed, and Joy discusses her 18-year journey to publication! To read the complete interview, visit Justin’s blog.
PICTURE BOOK TEAMS TELL ALL
July 2, 2019
Rhys Keller: Words that Show the Way
What makes picture books stand out? How do you take a classic tradition, give it a modern twist, and turn it into a picture book an agent and editor will love? What can you do to add authenticity to a story and bridge the gap between the historic and the fanciful? Find out now from the wonderful cast of our third installment in the series, When Picture Books Shine Editors Sign – Teams Tell All, where author, agent, illustrator, and acquisition editor have pulled open the curtain for all of us: When Picture Books Shine Editors Sign – Teams Tell All – Part 3
RIGHTS ACQUIRED FOR The Passover Mouse
November 19, 2019
Publisher’s Weekly
Frances Gilbert at Doubleday Books for Young Readers has acquired world rights to The Passover Mouse by Joy Nelkin Wieder, illustrated by Shahar Kober. Publication is slated for January 28, 2020.
In the holiday-themed picture book about community and sharing, a little mouse upsets a village preparing for Passover when it steals a morsel of unleavened bread—or chometz—right after all the houses have been swept clean in accordance with Talmudic law, inspiring the neighbors to come together to help get ready.
Barbara Krasner at Olswanger Literary represented the author and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator. Rights Report: Week of November 19, 2018