Miriam and Her Dancing Shoes
by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
illustrated by Joani Rothenberg
Apples & Honey Press, 2025. 40 pages.
Review written April 28, 2026, from a library book.
Starred Review
Miriam and Her Dancing Shoes is a delightful expansion on the Bible story of the parting of the Red Sea.
The paintings that go with the book have rich, beautiful colors. The people are leaving Egypt, but still complaining.
“ENOUGH COMPLAINING!”
Moses held up his hands.“TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU CAN AND HURRY!”
There was no time to argue,
no time for bread to rise.
The people carried bowls of
sticky dough on their shoulders.But not Miriam!
She carried a timbrel
and her dancing shoes.
I love Moses’s response:
“Give me strength,”
sighed Moses.
“We are running for our lives,
not planning a party!”
But as the people are going through the Sea of Reeds after Moses parts it, they are afraid and begin complaining again. Moses is so far ahead, they can’t even see him. And of course Pharaoh’s army is behind.
So Miriam shouts for them to follow her.
FOLLOW MY DANCING SHOES.
And when they slip and slide and get stuck in the mud, she tells them to lift up their feet like they are dancing. She plays her timbrel, and they walk to the rhythm.
Moses looked back
and was amazed.The people were following
Miriam’s dancing shoes and
the music of her timbrel.They were not complaining.
They were not grumbling.
They were singing.
They were dancing!
Miriam assures him this is the song of freedom, the sound of hope.
And this whole wonderful story is told with glorious paintings. I’m now thinking of this old story in a completely different way.
There are nine pages of back matter at the end of this picture book. I had a hard time deciding whether to put the book in nonfiction with some other Bible stories or with the picture books. I ultimately decided on picture books because the story it tells is so wonderful, and I think it will find more readers.
The back matter includes a wonderful song, written and performed by David Sasso, which you can find at www.davidsasso.com/freedom-walks-in-dancing-shoes. It’s based on the book and uses paintings from the book, and listening to it added to my delight with the whole project.
There are also a couple of craft projects in the back, including “Make a Freedom Tambourine,” and then notes about the story of the Exodus and the history of traditions that have grown up around Miriam, the sister of Moses.
You don’t have to be Jewish or Christian to love this story.
rabbisandysasso.com
applesandhoneypress.com
Find this review on Sonderbooks at: www.sonderbooks.com/Picture_Books/miriam_and_her_dancing_shoes.html
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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.
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