PJ Library has a lot of great Passover stories, some taking place in ancient Egypt (of course) and some in modern families’ homes. But only one brings us into the world-famous house of a US president. Next Year in the White House: Barack Obama’s First Presidential Seder, written by Richard Michelson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis, offers a unique look at how this holiday made recent American history. We’re introduced to three Jewish members of (then Senator) Barack Obama’s presidential campaign staff as they squeeze an impromptu seder into a hotel basement (and into their packed schedules).
We love the way this true story reveals what inspired President Obama to hold the first-ever seder in the White House. Along the way, we’re shown the power of Passover’s freedom story to connect descendants of two enslaved peoples. And we see that a seder meal thrown together on the fly can be just as meaningful as one served on the country’s finest china.
This book is also available for purchase on the Penguin Random House website.
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March 4, 2025