Some students at Temple Beth Israel Religious School in Fresno are a little more familiar with a brave boy Nachshon -- and Passover.They learned he was afraid of the water. Yet, he overcame his fear, wading into the Red Sea, the first person to step into the sea when the waters parted for Moses.A little boy, a big story.

The lesson came during a recent story time in teacher Deborah Reba's classroom for second grade. Student assistant Jessica Rosenfeld, 17, a student at Buchanan High School, read the new children's book, "Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim: A Passover Story" to the students. . .

"We're told to retell the story of the Exodus," says Jeanna Francis, director of education at Temple Beth Israel Religious School. . . She believes "Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim: A Passover Story" takes a fresh look at the ageless Passover story.

The book's author, Deborah Bodin Cohen, says she wanted to personalize the Passover story for children, developing a theme -- fear -- that they relate to. She is rabbi for lifelong education at Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill, N.J., and mother to a 7-year-old girl, Arianna, and 14-month-old son, Jesse.

"All children have a fear of something," she says.Cohen says she hopes readers put themselves in the position of the Israelites, particularly Nachshon. Then, they can better understand that God is with them during their struggles.

"It's a form of faith that God would provide for them," she says. Cohen says her book is based on Nachshon, the character in the Midrash, which is any of the rabbinical commentaries and explanatory notes on the Scriptures. Nachshon is mentioned briefly in the Torah and the Bible. Rabbis in the first few centuries of the Common Era wrote that Nachshon first had the faith to walk in the Red Sea, among the reeds. Cohen presents what Nachshon also must have been thinking.

At the Fresno synagogue's Religious School, the children listened closely as Rosenfeld read to them and held open pages so they could view the illustrations. The illustrations show slaves toiling in the hot desert sun. Pharaoh and his courtiers. Moses rallying the Israelites. God's plagues over the land. Locusts. Frogs.Then, Nachshon's step into the Red Sea. And his walk to freedom.After the reading stopped, Reba asked, "What is the book about?"

"Freedom," a girl answered.

Reba explained the writings came from the Midrash -- and not from the Tanak nor Torah."Is it a true story?" a boy asked.

Reba answered that the book poses questions answered in the Torah. Sounded good to the boy and others.

"Have there been many rabbis?" a girl asked."Many."

When students were asked if they had fears similar to Nachshon's, many hands shot up.A girl said it is scary to dive off a diving board into a swimming pool. A boy said he isn't sure about doing flips on the bars at playgrounds.

Reba reminded them that God can help them -- just like he did with Nachshon. She says, "With overcoming fears, it's hearing that inner voice."And some students smiled back.