Review: Matzah Day

Matzah Day!

by Charlotte Offsay, illustrated by Jason Kirschner

Holiday House, 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Elizabeth Suneby

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

This upbeat picture book celebrates the many, many ways matzah can be enjoyed, and is sure to get young children excited about Passover and eating matzah. The happy rhyming text and energetic colorful illustrations infuse a rather "dry" (pun intended) subject with joy. Even before the story begins, the wordless mosaic of matzah squares with the family's faces sets a welcoming tone.

The book offers an authentic representation of Passover and Judaism on many levels, even alluding to the potential drawbacks of eating matzah: crumbs and constipation! On a more serious note, the child-friendly nonfiction back matter is written for children, but is great for grown-ups who would like a holiday primer. And the back matter offers recipes for matzah and for a sweet and a savory matzah dish. 

Editor's Note: This book was included on the Association of Jewish Libraries' Spring 2025 Holiday Highlights list.

 

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Reviewer Elizabeth Suneby is an award-winning children's book author whose Jewish-themed titles include the picture book NO ROOM FOR A PUP! -- a modern twist on a Yiddish folktale-- and THAT'S A MITZVAH -- a board book in a three book mitzvah series that also includes a picture book and a nonfiction title for preteens. She was thrilled to be part of the PJ Library Author Israel Adventure 2023 and has two board books going out from PJ Publishing: one in 2025, one in 2026.