The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah

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.

Author: Leslie Kimmelman
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 11/01/2010
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.36lbs
Size: 9.88h x 9.50w x 0.12d
ISBN: 9780823423279
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.4
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 135559 / Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah

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.