A Place for Elijah

Ruben (The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes) introduces a host of Passover traditions, including leaving an empty seat for the prophet Elijah, through one family’s ever-growing celebration. Sarah and her family are settling in for a chilly first night of Passover when a power outage brings a stream of neighbors to their door. The setting isn’t precisely specified, but details of the neighborhood and the characters’ clothing suggests an American city sometime during the first half of the 20th century. With each new guest, be it Mrs. Faaiz the florist or Ben at the bagel shop, Sarah grows increasingly nervous that there won’t be enough room for Elijah; the arrival of the final guest, a young African-American newsie whose name is revealed to be Elijah, suggests that honoring the spirit of a tradition is just as valuable as following it to the letter. Friar’s (O Christmas Tree) finely detailed illustrations turn Sarah’s family’s Passover meal into an inclusive, multiethnic affair, while Ruben’s straightforward narration makes the holiday’s customs and practices clear and accessible. Ages 5–9. Illustrator’s agent: Christina A. Tugeau, Christina A. Tugeau Artist Agency. (Feb.)