I Love Matzah

January 15, 2020
Eating matzah is a delicious Passover tradition for one happy kid. In this ode to the unleavened foodstuff, a young preschooler noshes on the Passover specialty throughout the day in various yummy iterations, whether it's crumbled in yogurt, spread with jam, or alongside fish and carrots. Confined to a child's snug domestic world, all the action takes place within the home, and the simply rendered kitchen, dining-room, and bedroom scenes place all the focus on the curly-haired child's smiling face as yet another meal with the familiar, favorite food approaches. The book ends humorously with the family giggling at baby brother, who is wearing, not eating his treat, and a wish for readers to have a "Happy Passover!" Joyful illustrations are flat and bright, and there are little touches of Judaica sprinkled throughout that will make Jewish children feel seen: a Star of David mobile, a kippah-topped teddy bear, and a cheery "Got Matzah?" bib. Relayed in sprightly rhyming couplets, the text emphasizes the many tasty treats and the use of special Passover servingware, highlighting the terminal word in each rhyme, a device that will boost emergent literacy. It seems odd that the Seder isn't mentioned at all, but otherwise this speaks well to the routines and rituals that many children hold so dear. Matzah lovers rejoice--this one's for you! (Board book. 1-4)

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