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Here come the Purim players! / Barbara Cohen

The Jews living in the Prague ghetto gather to watch a troupe of local players reenact the story of Queen Esther.

Cakes and miracles : a Purim tale / by Barbara Diamond Goldin

Young, blind Hershel finds that he has special gifts he can use to help his mother during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Features a recipe for hamantashen.

Purim play / by Roni Schotter

Frannie is upset because an elderly neighbor is going to play the part of Haman in this year's Purim play, but Mrs. Teplitzky surprises everyone with her acting ability. Includes facts about Purim and a recipe for hamantaschen, a traditional Purim pastry.

A costume for Noah : a Purim story / Sue Remick Topek

Noah's classmates are busy making costumes for the Purim parade, but he is preoccupied with the imminent arrival of a new baby.

Esther's story / Diane Wolkstein

Esther's diary and great illustrations show the growth of a timid young girl into a strong queen.

Queen Esther the morning star / Mordicai Gerstein

Retells the story of how a beautiful Jewish girl became the Queen of Persia and saved her people from death at the hands of the evil Haman.

Esther / by Miriam Chaikin

Retells the Old Testament story of how the young Jewish girl, Esther, became queen of Persia and used her influence to stop the evil minister Haman from killing all the Jews. The feast of Purim commemorates this event.

Make noise, make merry : the story and meaning of purim / Miriam Chaikin

Retells the biblical story of the rescue of the Persian Jews from Haman's plot to destroy them. Explains the Purim symbols and tells how the feast is celebrated.

On Purim / by Cathy Goldberg Fishman

Uses the story of a family's preparations for the Jewish holiday of Purim to explain the traditions connected with this celebration.

Queen Esther saves her people / retold by Rita Golden Gelman

Retells the story of how a beautiful Jewish girl became the Queen of Persia and saved her people from death at the hands of the evil Hamen.

Purim! / Camille Kress

Introduces toddlers to the symbols and celebration of Purim.

The whole Megillah (almost) / Shoshana Silberman

Includes abbreviated chapter summaries of the Book of Esther, commentaries, a play script, and music and costume ideas.

Festival of Esther : the story of Purim

Explains the history and meaning of Purim and includes a traditional holiday song and a recipe for hamantashen cookies.

A Purim album / by Raymond A. Zwerin and Audrey Friedman Marcus

Robin and her friends take part in a play for Purim, a Jewish holiday celebrating the saving of Jews from a massacre plotted by Haman.

Esther = [Ester] : the traditional Hebrew text with the new JPS translation

This informative commentary (part of JPS's Bible Commentary series) dissects the book of Esther and, by extension, the Jewish holiday of Purim. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing Esther as comedy and as diaspora literature; the introduction also does a fine job of explaining the Persian period and its various art forms. Concerning Purim, Berlin posits that the text of Esther may have been included in the biblical canon because the Purim holiday had already taken a strong hold. Berlin concludes that "Purim existed, in one form or another, before the book was written." The commentary section presents the Hebrew text of Esther alongside the JPS translation, with Berlin's extensive annotations below.

The Purim Anthology by Philip Goodman

In late winter, Purim warms the spirit with noisemakers, costumes, hamantashen, and comic "Purimspiels." The Megillah of Esther, read in the synagogue, tells how the Jewish Queen of Persia and her uncle, Mordecai, saved their people from Haman's murderous plan. Readers will learn the many ways that Jews celebrate this day of merriment.

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