Queen Esther's Big Secret: A Purim Story (Jewish Holiday Books for Children)

This story is based on the Book of Esther which is read on the feast of Purim in Jewish synagogues around the world. It celebrates how Queen Esther saved the Jewish people in Persia from slaughter during the reign of Achashverosh (Xerxes I).King Achashverosh (Oy-vey) had an argument with his wife, Queen Vashti. She disappeared. The king became lonely and sent his guards to find a new wife. He chose Esther, a girl who was previously unknown. Esther hid a secret, she was the cousin of Mordechai, the Jew. When the wicked Haman develops a plot to kill all the Persian Jews, Esther reveals it to the king who kills Haman and rescinds the decree. The shy orphan girl becomes the heroine of her people.The four-line rhymes contained on each page are crisp and sharp. Zavadskyi’s illustrations are brilliantly colorful. They portray the mood of the story perfectly. I would recommend this book for any elementary school reader

I loved Sarah Mazor's newest book , "Queen Esther's Big Secret." There are many reasons why I found it educational and enchanting. One is that it's important for children to learn about other cultures and ancient history, as well. In this story we discover King Oy-Vey has a misunderstanding with his wife, Queen Vashti and the king orders his men to find a more appropriate queen who shows wisdom and kindness to everyone in his kingdom. King Oy-Vey's men search far and wide for exactly the right queen. When they choose Esther they have no idea about the natural talents of the new queen, or the secret she's hidden her whole life. Young readers will find the story fascinating and enchanting. They will want to read it over and over again. Both the story and the beautiful illustrations are extraordinary. I highly recommend it and congratulate Ms. Mazor on yet another remarkable book. Everyone should include this book in their home library.Review by children's author Deanie Humphrys-Dunne

Queen Esther’s Big Secret is another enchanting story by this creative and talented author, Sarah Mazor. This story is Book 4 of her Jewish Holiday Books for Children. She has created this beautiful series of stories to teach children about their Jewish heritage, customs and traditions.This story is told simply in a lovely rhyme that will engage children and help them understand this Purim story easily. Children will enjoy the beautifully crafted illustrations as they learn the importance of kindness to others through Queen Esther’s actions. This tale will be enjoyed by all ages.I highly recommend this and all books by this exceptional author. Her books carry good family values and valuable life lessons for children that parents and caretakers will treasure. This is another wonderful addition for parents to add to their children’s library.

This is a beautifully illustrated story for children to learn about the significant history of the Jewish Purim holiday. It celebrates the story of the heroic Queen Esther, who saved her people from the evil Haman’s plan to eliminate the Jews of Persia.This story is written in an easy-to-understand format with clear and concise rhyming that flows smoothly. I especially enjoyed the humor and simplicity of how the author shortened King Achashverosh's name to King "Oy-vey".This enchanting tale is filled with so much rich cultural history, and I believe that all children should read it, no matter what their religion is. The importance and value of learning about our world's history is priceless, and I think this book should be included in every library and classroom today.

This book is merely mediocre, in that while decently written and illustrated, it falls short as it omits significant aspects of the Megillah / Book of Esther / Purim story. The two most significant examples are how Mordechai warned King Achashveros of a plot against him, and a later but related clash between Haman and Mordechai over the latter being honored by the King. Other children's books include more detail while still being understandable by young children - perhaps more so. Also, my 4-yr old can say Achashveros, whom the book nicknames Oy-Vey, which only leads to confusion.

Great story of course and great illustrations, but it should be made clear what ages this is for. The book talks directly about Haman's plan to kill the Jews and that he was hung from a tree at the end. I had to "censor" the book to read it to my 4-year-old.

great book for little minds

This cute book of rhymes is written for young children. It is a clever adaptation of the Book of Esther, covering the highlights of the actual story line. The illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning and work perfectly alongside the story. I recommend this book as a read-aloud for young children.

This lovely short rhyming story book is very elaborately illustrated in rich colours and much detail. It tells an interesting Jewish story about Queen Esther both clearly and simply. A great addition to the libraries of Jewish families with younger children, but also a great way for children of any faith and background to learn about diversity and the stories from different cultures.