Matzah Ball Soup

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3 The eternal matzah-ball debate floaters or sinkers, spicy or bland forms the basis of this Passover tale. As she helps her grandmother prepare for the Seder, Rosie asks why their family always eats chicken soup with four matzah balls in it. Grandma then tells the story behind the family tradition, of the Passover when her mother and three sisters squabbled over whose recipe was truly the best. A contest ensued, with the uncles acting as judges around the Seder table. Of course, it was decided that no meal would be complete without all four varieties of matzah balls in the chicken soup, giving rise to tradition. This tale is best suited for children who know the story of Passover, as parts of the Seder are mentioned but not explained. The pictures are a bit stiff, but capture the nervous aunts and the happy family gathering. The borders around the illustrations are especially effective. A lighthearted companion piece to Fran Manushkin's The Matzah That Papa Brought Home (Scholastic, 1995), offering children a vivid picture of how traditions pass from generation to generation. Martha Link, Louisville Free Public Library, KY Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.