Engineer Ari and the Passover Rush

April 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-Ari works on the Jaffa-Jerusalem line, a steam train that started running in 1892, according to the author's note. He is in a rush to make the train schedule and do his shopping before the holiday begins, and this ties in with his rush to make matzah within the prescribed 18 minutes. His friends along the route supply him with seder plate ingredients, showing a warm sense of community. The pencil and digital illustrations have a loose, cartoon style that gives a good sense of the Israeli landscape and architecture. The story is a little contrived, with Ari being lucky enough to be given most of the supplies he needs and making unscheduled stops to chat with friends. The railroad theme has universal appeal but perhaps not enough to attract readers who know nothing about Passover as the author's note is minimal. VERDICT Useful for Judaica collections or where the earlier "Engineer Ari" books (Kar-Ben) are popular.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

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