Purim Play

by Roni Schotter, Marylin Hafner (Illustrator)

Frannie is upset because an elderly neighbor is going to play the part of Haman in this year's Purim play, but Mrs. Teplitzky surprises everyone with her acting ability

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frannie had always enjoyed her family's Purim celebrations, which traditionally included a Purim play, or spiel. Her older brother Ezra always took the role of King Ahasueras, her cousins played Mordicai and the evil schemer, Haman, while Frannie herself got to be Esther - the brave Queen who saved the Jewish people! But when her cousins can't come this year, because they have the flu, and her mother invites their widowed neighbor, Mrs. Teplitzky - who's "old, and talks funny" - Frannie is convinced the Purim play will be ruined. But, as her father reminds her, "crazy and wonderful things happen, especially at Purim..."

An engaging story, that touches on issues of family, friends, and tradition, Purim Play is a wonderful holiday tale, in which a young girl learns to appreciate an older person, discovers that she can learn from her, and be friends with her. The colorful illustrations by Marilyn Hafner add to the sense of fun, while the afterword fills in some details of the Purim story, and the customs that accompany it. There's even a recipe for Frannie's mother's "Bet-You-Can't-Eat-Just-One" Apricot-Orange Hamantaschen! Appealing, entertaining, and heartwarming - this is a picture-book for anyone who loves Purim, or who wants to know more about it!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just put Hanukkah! and Passover Magic on reserve at the library; they’re by the same team that wrote & illustrated this book.

I was very touched by this story, especially by the new friendship of the young girl Frannie and the “old” neighbor woman Mrs. Teplitzky, who’s brought in to play the part of Haman when some cousins have the flu and cannot attend. This story informs the reader about Purim while also simply entertaining, and deftly shows how fun the holiday can be.

I love how the story started out with the first page being a program for the play, including the cast list. At the end of the book, there are informative pages: The Story of Purim and How Purim is Celebrated, and a hamantaschen recipe too.

I immensely enjoyed the illustrations. The dog and cat are particularly adorable. The welcoming and lived in rooms full of possessions and people are colorful and fun to look at in depth.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember checking this book out from my local library so vividly oh my god. and I was so enamored with it as a kid. I definitely grew up Christian but Esther was always my favorite Bible story. I loved the theatricality and the putting on of the costumes and the makeup and the way the Esther story was told. Also, the back of this book had a recipe for hamantaschen and I always wanted to make them—I never got around to it; maybe I should one of these years around Purim?

[Julie Ditton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every year at the family Purim party, Frannie, her brother and cousins perform the Purim Spiel- a play about the story of Esther, When her cousins have the flu and can't perform, Mom invites the widow down the street to come play the villain Haman. Frannie thinks that the play will be ruined. Can an evil man can be played by old woman? When it turns out that she is an actress, Frannie forms a surprising friendship. At the same time that the readers follow Frannie's story, they also learn the story of Purim through the play. I loved that the toddlers were refered to as noisemakers, comparing them to groggers. The illustrations included a well lived in home full of detail and pets that got up to their own antics in the background. The book also includes an afterward with the story of Esther, How people celebrate and a recipe for hamantaschen. Although the book is aimed at Jewish Children, the story can also be appreciated by those who know nothing about the holiday.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a charming story not only of a popular Jewish holiday play but of learning tolerance. In a surprise twist, Haman is played by a woman instead of a man and a little girl must adjust to this change as well as get to know her kooky neighbor. When Mrs. Teplitzky shows what she’s capable of, everyone believes her impersonation of Haman and her acting impresses Frannie and makes the play a hit.

The illustrations are colorful, with vibrant hues, and the faces expressive, ably matching the text. It’s a gentle children’s tale about a serious subject, a morality story both up front and incognito.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the narrative of this book, how it tells the story of Purim almost as an aside to the family celebrations. Teaches without teaching ;)