That curious little arachnid, Sammy Spider, returns in this Simchat Torah story, observing the human Shapiro family once again, and asking his mother about the meaning of their actions. Watching Josh listen to his favorite story, about the creation of the world, Sammy too becomes caught up in the tale, and is fascinated by the little Torah the human boy brings home. He watches as Mrs. Shapiro makes candy apples, and inadvertently tags along as the whole family head to the synagogue, where they mark the joyous occasion in the Jewish calendar, when the year-long reading of the Torah comes to an end, only to begin again...

Not being Jewish, I did not grow up aware of the significance of Simchat Torah, which begins tonight (October 10th, 2020) at sundown, and lasts until tomorrow night. I first encountered it in Elsa Okon Rael's lovely picture-book, When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street, although I have not since encountered many children's stories devoted to the subject. I was glad therefore, to stumble across Sammy Spider's First Simchat Torah, which is the third story about this little arachnid that I have read and enjoyed. Like the others, it pairs a simple story, one in which a Jewish holiday is explained to the curious Sammy, with colorful cut-paper illustrations. There is even a recipe here for candy apples! Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories about Simchat Torah, as well as to fans of Sammy Spider and his boundless curiosity. If only his mother would stop calling him 'silly,' for wanting to learn more! ( )

"Sammy Spider’s First Simchat Torah," written by Sylvia A. Rouss and illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn, was great book that was very enjoyable to read. I liked this book for many different reasons. Although this is a modern fantasy story, it explores and explains the Jewish holiday, Simchat Torah, by providing informational text throughout the story. By using different literary tools and incorporating the Jewish holiday information, the author conveyed the main messages of what Simchat Torah is and the importance of knowing about and understanding cultures and religions that are different from your own.
The main character of the story, Sammy the spider, and his mother live on the wall of a Jewish family’s house. Sammy becomes increasingly curious about Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday that the family was getting ready to celebrate. The author uses questions in Sammy the spider’s dialogue to grasp the reader’s attention and guide them to think about what this Jewish holiday is all about. Another way the reader is pulled into the story is through extremely colorful illustrations on every page. The word choice the author uses, along with the illustrations, allows the reader to easily understand the meaning and aspects of Simchat Torah.
Along with these literary tools, the pace of the book also contributes to the overall messages the author is trying to convey to readers. For example, the author does not fill the pages with long passages or difficult words. This allows the reader to following along with the text at a smooth, comfortable pace, which helps readers to understand the information about the Jewish holiday presented by the author.
To convey the importance of learning about cultures and religions that are different from one’s own, the author uses a variety of literary tools. For example, Sammy the spider constantly asked his mother about the holiday of Simchat Torah. When his mother did not know the answers, Sammy the spider took it upon himself to get the information by listening and watching the Jewish family. Another literary tool that the author used was repetition. After Sammy the spider learned something new about the holiday, he quickly went home to tell his mother what he learned. This use of repetition helps the reader to remember the information in the story more easily. The curiosity that Sammy the spider had throughout the story motivated him to join the family in their Simchat Torah celebration. This tool used by the author shows the reader how important it is to be knowledgeable and respectful of cultures and religions different from one’s own.
I think that this children’s picture book is extremely well written and enjoyable to read. The book’s illustrations and the literary tools used by the author draw the reader into the story immediately. At the same time, these illustrations and tools convey the message of learning about the Jewish holiday, Simchat Torah, and the importance of respecting and understanding cultures and religions that are different from one's own culture and religion. ( )