Presenting a spiel (Yiddish for “play”) has been a Purim custom since the 14th century. Spiels are often silly and playful and can even be a means to parody local events or news.
Act Out a PJ Library Book
Several PJ Library books feature age-appropriate retellings of the Purim story. Pick one off of your shelf and have kids act out the pages as someone reads the story aloud. Here are a few titles to help you get started:
Pick a Script
Use one of PJ Library’s ready-to-print-at-home pdfs to host your own spiel.
Talk It Over
In the story Purim Chicken, Cluck, the main character, doesn’t get the part she wants in the Purim play, and she’s disappointed. Has something like this ever happened to you? How did you make the best of it? What do you do when things don’t go your way?
In the Purim story, Queen Esther hides her Jewish identity for a long time. Have you ever kept a secret about yourself? How did you feel about it?
Can you think of a time when you were scared, but you chose to act bravely just as Queen Esther did? What happened?
More
Family-Friendly Podcasts and Videos to Share the Purim Story
Learning the Four Mitzvot of Purim
Printable: Purim Finger Puppets
February 11, 2026