Purr-im Time

Three little kittens celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim by baking hamantaschen cookies, delivering gift baskets to friends and neighbors, wearing costumes and marching in a parade, acting out the story of Queen Esther, shaking noisemakers, and enjoying carnival games. While most picture books about Purim for young readers tend to gloss over the Purim story, Waldman provides an age-appropriate context: “Haman wants to hurt the Jews; his heart is full of spite. No one else can save her people—Esther leads the fight! She warns the king of Haman’s plot; the kitties shout, ‘Hooray!’ All it takes is one strong voice—Queen Esther saves the day.” The clever rhyming text scans well, and colorful cartoon digital illustrations that completely anthropomorphize the kittens are fun, festive, and expressive. Hebrew terms like Chag Purim, megillah, gragger, and tzedakah are interspersed throughout, making this most suitable for readers already familiar with the holiday customs. VERDICT A welcome addition for secular and religious collections alike.   

–Rachel Kamin, School Library Journal

The Jewish holiday of Purim, here dubbed Purr-im, is celebrated by a trio of lively kitties. Two striped cats and one Siamese bake the tasty hamantaschen, shaped like Haman’s hat, and make baskets of food and gifts to share. After joining a parade with other felines, with everyone in costume, the cats attend temple, where they listen to the reading of the Megillah, or the story of Purim, in which brave Queen Esther saves her people from the evil Haman. Esther discovers Haman’s plot to kill the Jews (described here as “hurt[ing] the Jews”) and warns the king—“All it takes is one strong voice,” the narrator notes. The kitties follow the custom and wave noisemakers called graggers every time Haman’s name is mentioned. There’s also a carnival with fun and games. The narrator reminds readers to give to those in need by contributing tzedakah, or charity, for helping is also fun. The kitties’ various activities present a perfect parallel to the real human holiday. Everything is described in lilting, generally four-line verses, in ABCB form. Filled with movement and joy, the illustrations depict adorable kittens who will delight readers with their antics while also gently teaching them about the holiday. (This book was reviewed digitally.)  Chag Purim Sameach. Happy Purim—and Purr-im—to all. (note for families, craft instructions) (Religious picture book. 4-8) 

--Kirkus Reviews

Three anthropomorphised felines are big fans of Purim in this upbeat picture book by Waldman. Rising from their naps, they embark on a nonstop celebration, making hamantaschen, delivering baskets of home-baked treats, and donning costumes ("Capes and crowns,/ and flowing gowns") for a procession that leads to a boisterously acted megillah reading and carnival. The kittens are fluffy and plump in Chen's lively digital illustrations, which give them unmistakably enthusiastic expressions, as befits a holiday where no-holds-barred fun is the rule. Only one spread explicitly references faith ("Haman wants to hurt the Jews;/ his heart is full of spite"), but the kitties clearly live in an active, exuberant Jewish community, where feline neighbors decorate their houses for the holiday and greet the Purim parade form their windows. A note and craft instructions conclude. Ages 3-6. 

--Publishers Weekly

I'm not normally a huge fan of anthropomorphic animals to tell ethnocultural stories, because I think they often detract from the genuine underlying beauty and meaning of these rich traditions. That said, this year's "Purr-im Time!" (2023) is DEFINITELY the exception to my mind: an incredibly sweet book with the feel almost of the old classic Golden Books; a warm, cheerful tale of kittens at the holidays that will bring the joy of Purim to life for your youngest family members. I adore the punny title, Jenna Waldman's lively text that covers everything from the traditional story of Purim to a description of how we celebrate nowadays, and Erica Chen's adorable illustrations of celebrating kitties.

--NoodleNuts Kids Books