The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

The Curious Case of the Pot Roast: A Passover Mystery by Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh, illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt Green Bean Books, 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Eva Weiss   Buy at Bookshop.org The spirited young hero of this picture book brings to life the antic legend of a custom born of misinterpretation. On Passover Eve, an inquisitive boy (whose name we never learn) asks his mother why she cuts off the ends of her pot roast before cooking it. To decipher the family tradition, the child is directed first to his grandmother, and then to his great-grandmother, who reveals that the custom originated with a pot that was too small for the roast. The story is told in the first-person voice of the engaging and precocious hero, who also states its moral: "Even old recipes can have new questions." Along the way, the young hero asks many more questions about the ways of the world, as he skips up the stairs. He wants to know everything from who invented spoons to whether an...

My Matzah written & illustrated by Ann Diament Koffsky Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Rebecca Greer   Buy at Bookshop.org   This simplistic board book focuses on a young koala bear trying to find the hidden matzah, also referred to as the “afikoman”. He looks high and low throughout the house as an older male koala looks on. It is only when the pair search together that it is found and can be eaten. At the end is a brief note that the afikoman is hidden during Passover and must be searched for. The question is also posed to the reader “where would you choose to hide it?” which sets up a discussion after the book is done. Clever artwork shows the fun and joy of searching for the matzah, especially once it’s found and can be eaten, through the use of onomatopoeia words “munch” and “crunch”. The story is extremely brief, with a focus on the artwork, giving a glimpse into a Passover seder. A quick and cute read for you...

  One, Two, Three, Passover! by Naomi Shulman, illustrated by Nora Hilb PJ Publishing, 2025 Category: Board Books Reviewer: Ann Koffsky   Buy at Amazon.com Like all successful board books aimed at the youngest readers, One, Two, Three, Passover is deceptively simple. It’s main character of a young girl takes the reader through the highlights of the Passover holiday, starting with preparation, then through the seder meal. At each stage, the refrain of “one Two three!” is repeated, and is used to count three matzahs, three haggaddahs, and three claps along to dayenu and more. Throughout, our protagonist is accompanying by her adorable and fluffy dog, and through the illustrations we get to meet her grandparents and multi-racial friends, too. The words of the book are very well structured, and target the age group well. Sentences are simple, and the concept of 1,2,3 is right on point, and exactly what readers this age are learning. The illustrations are also very cleve and add l...

Happy Passover, Edie Rose! by Joy Preble, illustrated by Valeria Cis Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2025 Category: Picture Books  Reviewer: Julie Ditton   Buy at Bookshop.org   Why is this Passover book different from all other Passover books? Most other Passover picture books tell the biblical Passover story or tell a tale of a typical seder. This one is a bit different. Mia and everyone else loves going to Edie Rose's apartment for the Passover seder. Edie always prepares everything, and guests are told "just bring yourself". Edie makes everything fun, with paper frogs that kids have colored, and everyone participating and imagining that they are marching together to escape Egypt. Edie is quite the character, and regales Mia with the stories of all her travels. She has given Mia a map of the world to mark her own travels, stating that "You never know what journey might call your name." When Edie is injured right before Passover, Mia r...

Max's Mask: A Purim Story by Havvah Deevon, illustrated by Itay Bekin Kalaniot Books (imprint of Endless Mountains Publishing), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Amy Brook Cohen   Buy at Bookshop.org Max starts kindergarten at a new school and, while he likes his class and his new teacher, he’s not completely comfortable just yet. Fortunately, wearing his superhero costume and mask gives him the confidence he needs to deal with big emotions and new stressors. When a classmate knocks over Max’s block tower, kicks over Max’s neatly lined up row of toy cars, and then sticks his tongue out, Max's superhero costume and mask give him strength. A little while later, when Purim comes, everybody in the class chooses a costume - except Max. He decides to come to Purim unmasked, as his true self. Max realizes that he is strong just as he is - no costume necessary. This book makes a great social/emotional read-aloud for the classroom - for preschoolers, kindergarteners and beyond. Th...

Rachel Friedman Is Not the Queen by Sarah Kapit, illustrated by Genevieve Kote Henry Holt & Co., 2025 Category: Early Chapter Books Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaw   Buy at Bookshop.org Rachel Friedman is Not the Queen , the most recent entry in Sarah Kapit’s early chapter book series, is a warm, relatable friendship story that teaches about Purim and the importance of seeing others’ perspectives.   In this installment, goodhearted but impulsive Rachel falls out with her best friend Maya when Maya nabs the coveted role of Esther in their synagogue’s 3rd grade Purimspiel. Rachel, appropriately cast as the stubborn Vashti, takes her jealousy and disappointment out on Maya in harsh words, avoidance, and competitiveness. The caring adults in Rachel’s life notice the friction and help Rachel understand how her behavior is hurting her treasured friendship. Rachel apologizes and the two girls support each other through the challenges of the final performance of the play.  Rachel is...

Kayla and Kugel's Playful Purim written and illustrated by Ann Koffsky Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Susan Tarcov   Buy at Bookshop.org   This book is part of a series of picture books about the Jewish holidays, featuring Kayla and her dog, Kugel. This newest entry celebrates the holiday of Purim. Kayla and Kugel bake hamantashen, dress up in costumes (Kayla dresses up as Kugel, and Kugel as Kayla), go to synagogue to hear the reading of the Megillah, and then home for a Purim feast with family and friends. The cartoon-style illustrations are cheerful, and Kayla’s red braids point up or down, expressing her emotions. What fun to see dogs and cats in synagogue—all the better to make noise to drown out Haman’s name! And there’s a very nice touch at the end: the story says that a Purim meal is most fun with friends, and the following final note to the reader begins “Dear Friends.” This book is a great introduction to t...