A cheery Passover story, destined to become a holiday favorite.
How can matzoh go missing?
At the Cohen family’s seder on the first night of Passover, Grandpa Murray follows tradition and breaks the middle piece of matzoh into two. He wraps the larger piece—the afikomen—in a napkin and goes to hide it. Grandpa considers, then rejects, several places. When he hears his favorite word—soup—called out, he abandons his efforts, returning to the table. After everyone finishes reading the Haggadah and eats, the four grandkids hunt for the afikomen but have no luck. Grandpa Murray sheepishly admits he forgot the hiding place; Grandma Norma says it must be found so that they can finish the seder. Three grandkids continue searching, but one, David, hugs Grandpa consolingly. But what’s this? A cracking sound! It’s not Grandpa’s ribs; it’s the sound of matzoh, coming from Grandpa’s pocket! Afterward, per tradition, everyone eats some afikomen, and the seder ends. This warm, jocular Passover story is enlivened by crisp, spare cartoon illustrations, drawn with pen and ink; color was added digitally. Humorously, matzoh can be found throughout the book: The word matzoh on the title page is made from broken matzoh pieces, while the endpapers feature matzoh plus bowls of matzoh-ball soup. Even the onomatopoeic “KERR-ACK” issuing from Grandpa’s pocket resembles the titular food. Some family members are pale-skinned; some have light tan skin.
A cheery Passover story, destined to become a holiday favorite. (hiding the afikomen) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2025
ISBN: 9780063311183
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans.
It’s time to look for the elusive Daddysaurus.
In this latest installment in the seemingly never-ending series about a group of diverse kids attempting to trap mythical creatures, the youngsters are now on the lookout for a big mauve dinosaur with an emblazoned D on his stomach and a superhero cape. The fast-moving Daddysaurus is always on the go; he will be difficult to catch. Armed with blueprints of possible ideas, the kids decide which traps to set. As in previous works, ones of the sticky variety seem popular. They cover barbells with fly paper (Daddysaurus like to exercise) and spread glue on the handle of a shovel (Daddysaurus also likes to garden). One clever trick involves tempting Daddysaurus with a drawing of a hole, taped to the wall, because he fixes everything that breaks. Daddysaurus is certainly engaged in the children’s lives, not a workaholic or absent, but he does fall into some standard tropes associated with fathers. The rhyming quatrains stumble at times but for the most part bounce along. Overall, though, text and art feel somewhat formulaic and likely will tempt only devotees of the series. The final page of the book (after Daddysaurus is caught with love) has a space for readers to write a note or draw a picture of their own Daddysaurus. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72826-618-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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