"Young Lena, an aspiring detective, secretly observes the rabbi of her synagogue doing his numerous tasks and performing his varied responsibilities. As Lena and her dog assistant, Sandy, crouch behind a bush with dark glasses and a notepad, "the mysterious rabbi…seems to be everywhere." His many jobs include teaching, conducting ceremonies, celebrating holidays, providing comfort and advice, and participating in the overall life of his Jewish community. Though he may seem like a "superhero," Lena acknowledges the rabbi's peculiarities. He "slurps spaghetti," strews his floor with dirty socks, and even attends playtime tea parties (at which he looks "quite elegant"). Lena discovers a lot, declaring, "Rabbi Max is just one AWESOME PERSON"—but what endears him to her most is that, as his daughter, she can "slurp spaghetti right beside him" at the dinner table. Childlike cartoon drawings reflect a multigenerational suburban Jewish community; Rabbi Max, his daughter, and their family present white, but the broader congregation is racially diverse, and at least one member uses a wheelchair. An author's note includes four questions for discussion to extend the basic information presented through Lena's narration. Though not much of a challenge, Lena's detective work helps solve the mystery of a rabbi's professional life from a child's perspective."
— Kirkus Reviews
"Rabbi Max is a mensch! But wait- He also has secrets! It takes Lena, a smart girl detective, to reveal all. You’ll find out, too, after you read Leslie Kimmelman’s smart, funny book!"
— Fran Manushkin, author of Latkes and Applesauce; Many Days, One Shabbat; and the popular Katie Woo books.
"The Rabbi Slurps Spaghetti will entertain and inform children of all ages. Its story and illustrations both burst with humor and heart.
—Michelle Edwards, author of Chicken Man and A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love
"This light-hearted picture book is an unusual take on the life of a community leader and is a must for synagogue libraries and Rabbis’ studies. Children will come away with a new take on someone they thought they knew, but who is far more complex and perhaps much more fun than they imagined possible."
— Jewish Book Council
06/07/2019
PreS-Gr 1-The message about the many wonderful things a rabbi does while still having a family overwhelms this well-meaning but purposeful story. Lena wants to be a detective, so to hone her skills she is working on the case of how "Rabbi Max" can do so much. She shadows him, listing many of his activities, such as teaching Torah, braiding challah, leading services, volunteering, etc. and sneaking in some "secrets," like leaving dirty socks around and slurping his spaghetti. Finally, she concludes he is an "awesome person" and reveals that she knows his secrets because he is her father. While this functions as a pleasant introduction to a rabbi's many jobs, as a story it is weak at best. Lena's framing story is a stretch. She never really solves how he does everything, and in an attempt to keep her relationship with him secret, she refers to him as "Rabbi Max" throughout until the final reveal, which feels contrived. Minus the frame, the text is concise and moves along nicely. The cartoonish illustrations feature big-eyed, appealingly happy-looking characters with a variety of hair and skin tones. They have a sketchy look that enhances the movement and adds to the appeal. VERDICT This is a sweet but not entirely successful story with an obvious lesson. Jewish school and temple libraries seeking books that portray rabbis in an accessible way may find a use for it, but others can pass.-Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Library, CT
2019-02-06
Young Lena, an aspiring detective, secretly observes the rabbi of her synagogue doing his numerous tasks and performing his varied responsibilities.
As Lena and her dog assistant, Sandy, crouch behind a bush with dark glasses and a notepad, "the mysterious rabbi…seems to be everywhere." His many jobs include teaching, conducting ceremonies, celebrating holidays, providing comfort and advice, and participating in the overall life of his Jewish community. Though he may seem like a "superhero," Lena acknowledges the rabbi's peculiarities. He "slurps spaghetti," strews his floor with dirty socks, and even attends playtime tea parties (at which he looks "quite elegant"). Lena discovers a lot, declaring, "Rabbi Max is just one AWESOME PERSON"—but what endears him to her most is that, as his daughter, she can "slurp spaghetti right beside him" at the dinner table. Childlike cartoon drawings reflect a multigenerational suburban Jewish community; Rabbi Max, his daughter, and their family present white, but the broader congregation is racially diverse, and at least one member uses a wheelchair. An author's note includes four questions for discussion to extend the basic information presented through Lena's narration.
Though not much of a challenge, Lena's detective work helps solve the mystery of a rabbi's professional life from a child's perspective. (Picture book. 5-8)
