More than Enough: A Passover Story
More than Enough: A Passover Story, written by April Halprin Wayland and illustrated by Katie Kath, is published by Penguin Random House
April Halprin Wayland thought of the idea for her latest and most successful book, More than Enough: A Passover Story while hiking in Hawaii.
“I was thinking, if I could just get to the top of the hill, dayenu,” said Wayland from the kitchen table of her Manhattan Beach home, which she shares with her husband Gary, dog Eli, cat Snot, tortoise Sheldon, box turtle TicTac, two turtles named after the Beatles and “tons of goldfish.”
Dayenu, she explained, is a Hebrew concept meaning, “It would have been more than enough.”
The saying stems from the Israelites’ being freed from slavery — the occasion celebrated during Passover.
It’s also the name of a traditional Passover “thanksgiving song for all that was given to the Jewish people, proclaiming that any of one of the gifts, such as leading them out of slavery, parting the Red Sea and the giving of the Torah, would have been enough,” the book explains in its glossary. “It is a reminder to be aware of and grateful for the blessings in each moment.”
Wayland’s last book, New Year at the Pier, was based on her experience celebrating Rosh Hashanah with her synagogue Tikvah Jacob at the Manhattan Beach Pier. It was her first Judaism-themed book. She thought of the idea after a former editor asked her if she had any ideas for a book for a Jewish audience.
She thought her experience in Hawaii would make for “a good picture book.”
Her editor agreed, although the story went through many rewrites, changing from chronicling a family’s hike and a visit to a farmer’s market to buy traditional Hawaiian food to the preparation and enjoyment of a Passover meal. The target audience also changed from seven-year-olds to three- to five-year-olds — a hotter demographic in today’s publishing world.
Author April Halprin Wayland in her Manhattan Beach home with her book More than Enough: A Passover Story. Photo
Although she was initially reluctant to change the story, Wayland said she was glad that she did because of its warm reception. More than Enough was reviewed by the New York Times, along with a book about Jesus and one by Pope Francis answering questions from children.
Wayland, who describes herself as “not that religious,” consulted with three experts in Judaism for the book.
“At the Passover seder, everything is symbolic,” she said.
For example, the food that the family prepares, a spread called charoset that is made of apples, walnuts, honey, cinnamon and wine or grape juice, “represents the mortar that the slaves used to make buildings for the pharaohs,” Wayland said.
The story’s overall feeling, however, encompasses more than the specific holiday, or even Judaism, she said.
“For me, Dayenu’s message — being grateful for the blessings in each moment—goes beyond Passover,” Wayland wrote in her author’s note. “It’s a concept I hold in my heart when I’m on a beautiful hike, when I’m biking with my family, when I’m petting my kitty.” ER