The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah - by Leslie Kimmelman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A classic tale gets a Jewish twist, when Little Red Hen asks her friends for help making Passover matzah.

Before she knows it, Little Red Hen tells herself, it will be time for Passover. So she decides to plant some grain. But when she asks her friends to help, they're too busy for her. "Sorry, bub," says the Horse. "Think again," barks the dog.

Oy gevalt! "Friends, shmends," she says. "I'll just do it myself."

But when the wheat is grown and harvested, when the flour is milled and the matzah baked and the Seder table set-- all by Red on her own--who should come to her door but her not-so-helpful friends? Though she's tempted to turn them away, Little Red is a mensch-- and a mensch forgives.

Like her Haggadah says: Let all who are hungry come and eat. But who will do all these dishes?

Filled with Yiddish phrases and a healthy dose of humor, this Passover tale of hard work, friendship, and forgiveness is not to be missed. Bright cartoon illustrations add humor and detail to the story.

Backmatter includes a glossary of Yiddish phrases, an author's note about the holiday, and a recipe for making your own Passover matzah.

Review Quotes

* "This Yiddish-inflected retelling of 'The Little Red Hen' features a balabusta (good homemaker) who kvetches about her lazy no-goodnik friends who will not help her make matzah from wheat. . . . A must for Judaica collections."--School Library Journal, Starred Review

* "Such a clever idea! . . . Watch a familiar tale become exponentially funnier and, yes, more meaningful."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"very imaginative and witty for young readers."--Jerusalem Post

"Meisel's accompanying cartoons . . . add exactly the right touch of humor to this holiday version of a classic folktale, which is filled with enough Yiddishisms to make every Bubbe act out the reading in old-world style."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Leslie Kimmelman is a former children's book and magazine editor, as well as the author of more than a dozen children's books, including The Runaway Latke and Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights. Publishers Weekly has prasied her writing as "energetic" and "highly accessible to very young children." Her current dog, Jodie is one of a long line of family dogs that have loved cool lakes, long, lazy summers, and--especially--ice cream. She lives in the New Yok City area.

Paul Meisel is the author and illustrator of See Me Run, a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book, and See Me Dig, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book, and is the illustrator of many books for young people, including The Schmutzy Family by Madelyn Rosenberg, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book. He lives in Connecticut.