Sammy Spider's First Bar Mitzvah Paperback – August 1, 2016 by Sylvia A Rouss (Author), Katherine Janus Kahn (Illustrator) (Kar-Ben Publishing) (IBRChildrensBooks)

Everyone's favorite little spider is back with a new adventure and a new topic with which to educate young readers and listeners about Jewish life and culture. This latest escapade lands him at Josh's cousin's bar mitzvah where he watches the proceedings with great interest. He learns, as does the reader, about the synagogue rituals, both religious, such as the Torah reading, and fun, such as tossing candy in the direction of the bar mitzvah celebrant. As many very young children have never seen a bar mitzvah up close, this is a good topic for the age group. As usual, Sammy flirts with danger but is saved before disaster strikes and he returns at the end to his mother and his web to prepare (we hope) for further adventures. 

Josh’s family is invited to cousin Ben’s bar mitzvah, and as usual, Sammy Spider is curious. The sentient arachnid manages to stow away, first in the family’s tallit bag and later in Mr. Shapiro’s jacket pocket,providing Sammy (and readers) with a close-up view of all the proceedings. Sammy describes the prayers, singing, carrying of and reading from the Torah that he observes, as well as the congregation joyfullyshowering Ben with small candies to wish him a sweet life filled with Torah and good deeds. Rouss’ well-established series has become the go-to source for introducing Jewish holidays and customs to the very

young. Kahn’s collage artwork hits just the right note for the intended audience―colorful, fun, and uncluttered, while staying informative and respectful in tone. As well, this fills a niche for this age group, and the emphasis on religious significance rather than partying will please observant families. Pair this with Isabel Pinson’s Bubbe’s Belated Bat Mitzvah (2014) to complete the celebration."

This is the seventeenth book in the by now iconic series featuring endearing Sammy, his wise mother and the traditional Shapiro family. Katherine Janus Kahn's bright, bold, cheery pictures evoke smiles and combine with Sylvia Rouss' clever plots and clear to-the-point story-telling to meld into excellent picture book unity. The reader knows what to expect, can chant familiar lines, and is never disappointed but always comes away learning something new.