Matzah Ball Chase

by Rachelle Burk, Brittany Lakin (Illustrator)

Overview

"This very silly rhyming story...encourages travel, exploration, and learning about one’s heritage." —Association of Jewish Libraries

Just as a boy's grandmother puts some delicious matzah ball soup in his bowl, the matzah ball, animated and mischievous, jumps out and rolls onto the floor and out the door! As the two dash after it, more and more people join the chase as the matzah ball rolls past landmarks, from cities to deserts and eventually to the sea. This matzah ball will not be stopped!

In a spirited adventure reminiscent of The Gingerbread Man with a bouncy rhyming text evokes the classic children's satire "On Top of Spaghetti" this energetic, independent, and particularly expressive matzah ball bounces through major landmarks in Israel.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681156361
Publisher:	Behrman House, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/12/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.80(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Rachelle Burk is a retired social worker who writes fiction and non-fiction for readers ages 3 to 13. Her previous books include Women Who Changes the World: A Feminist Book for Children, Don't Turn the Page!, The Story of Simone Biles, The Best Four Questions, and many others. She lives in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Brittany Lakin received a BA (Hons) Illustration degree from Plymouth Universityin 2018 and began to pursue children's illustration. Since then, she has placed within the Top 25 for Pictoplasma's 'Face Off', and second for the Templar Illustration Prize, and second for the Plum Pudding Illustration Award. She lives in Honiton, England.

Editorial Reviews

This very silly rhyming story follows the adventures of a runaway matzah ball. Savta (Grandma) puts soup in her grandson’s bowl, and the lively matzah ball jumps out, dashes out the door, and begins a wild escapade, traveling throughout Israel visiting towns, historical sites, museums, and events.

The colorful illustrations reflect the excitement and discovery of the animated journey of the matzah ball while providing the readers with a fun journey throughout Israel from mountains to deserts to seas. The characters, although unnamed except for Savta, are lively and quite expressive.

A glossary of Yiddish and Hebrew words used throughout the story is found at the end of the story along with a list of sites visited by the matzah ball including a short identification and the location of each one. Similar to the adventures of "The Gingerbread Man," young children will enjoy a wild ride through Israel while visiting various sites including the Western Wall, Masada, and the Dead Sea, as well as some unusual venues and neighborhoods. This book encourages travel, exploration, and learning about one’s heritage.

Recommended for synagogue and day school libraries, and for public and public school libraries that collect diverse children’s books. —Rachel Glasser, Association of Jewish Libraries

Just as a boy's grandmother puts some delicious matzah ball soup in his bowl, the matzah ball, animated and mischievous, jumps out and rolls onto the floor and out the door! As the two dash after it, more and more people join the chase as the matzah ball rolls past landmarks, from cities to deserts and eventually to the sea. This matzah ball will not be stopped!

In a spirited adventure reminiscent of The Gingerbread Man with a bouncy rhyming text by children's author Rachelle Burk evokes the classic children's satire "On Top of Spaghetti" this energetic, independent, and particularly expressive matzah ball bounces through major landmarks in Israel.

Fully supporting the author's original and entertaining storyline with thoroughly kid-friendly and charming illustrations by Brittany Lakin, Rachelle Burk's "Matzah Ball Chase" if a fun read from cover to cover and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly appreciated pick for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 3-6.—Midwest Book Review

In this rhyming Passover story, a matzah ball made by a young Israeli girl’s grandmother flies out of her bowl of soup and bounces out of the house. The ball bounces into Jerusalem’s Old City, across Israel to Tel Aviv, Masada and the Red Sea in a ticklish travelog that arrives at a time when many Jewish families are likely to be thinking about Israel. —Jewish Telegraphic Agency

From the Publisher

10/18/2024

K-Gr 2—This rhythmic read-aloud is a Jewish version of "On Top of Spaghetti," but this time a rogue matzah ball jumps from grandmother Savta's soup and makes its way throughout much of Israel. The Hebrew and Yiddish words sprinkled throughout may be temporarily confusing to some readers but there is a helpful glossary at the end. With colorful and expressive illustrations that alternate between vignettes and full bleeds, the matzah ball visits parks, well-known streets, and several bustling markets, as well as recognizable landmarks like Masada, the Knesset, the City of Gold, and the Dead Sea. The chase collects a diverse group, showcasing the many vibrant cultures that call Israel home, which is the strongest element of the story; otherwise this is just a simplistic rhyme structure and well-worn storyline. The unexpected ending of dolphins catching the matzah ball interrupts the rhythm with little explanation, and then returns with a final couplet about making matzah balls square. VERDICT This predictable text breaks little new ground but serves as a useful introduction to Israel.—Rebecca Kirshenbaum

School Library Journal