Zayde Babysits Before Passover by Jane Sutton with illustrations by Kate Chappell; Minneapolis, Minnesota: Kar-Ben Publishing; (c) 2025; ISBN 9798765-619889; 24 pages; $18.99; Publication date January 7, 2025; Passover 2025 begins evening of April 13.
SAN DIEGO — This book written for children between the ages of 4 and 9 will have adults chuckling and children delighted. The collaboration between author Sutton and illustrator Chappell prompts readers to wonder who is babysitting whom.
Zayde (Grandpa) forgets to keep the fingerpaints out of the pet cat’s way, resulting in cat tracks all over the tablecloth. When Ruthie and Zayde shop for parsley for the seder, it is Ruthie who pushes the shopping cart and Zayde who sits inside it. At the playground, where Zayde is supposed to encourage Ruthie to use up her energy, so she won’t be restless during the seder, it’s Zayde who hurtles down the slide as Ruthie waits to catch him below. At home, as Ruthie plays a sedentary game, Zayde does handstands.
When Ruthie and Zayde are supposed to sweep the kitchen floor, just in case any chametz still can be found, Ruthie pushes her broom, while Zayde pretends his is a horse. Zayde later gets stuck beneath a kitchen counter during his search for chametz. And when Ruthie’s afternoon naptime comes, guess who sleeps and who doesn’t!
The seder, which Zayde leads, goes off without a hitch, with Ruthie asking the Four Questions, singing “Dayenu,” eating Bubbe’s matzah ball soup, and finding the afikomen. Ruthie asks Zayde if he will babysit again for her to which he replies “Of course, I can’t wait!”
Many children like to pretend they are smarter or more grown up than adults. This book gives expression to that sentiment, while teaching a little bit about Passover preparations and the seder itself.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.