Matzo Frogs by Sally Rosenthal with Art by David Sheldon

Title: Matzo Frogs
Author: Sally Rosenthal / Art by David Sheldon
Publisher: NewSouth Books
Publication Date: April 9, 2014
ISBN: 9781588383020
Number of Pages: 32
How I Got It: direct from publisher
Format: Hardcover

Description:

An entertaining and educational new picture book with a Jewish theme conveys an enduring message about the importance of mitzvot, community, and teamwork. 

This charmingly told and illustrated tale is a special blend of story and life lesson from an Emmy-award winning documentary filemaker and first-time author, Sally Rosenthal, with artwork by David Sheldon.

When kind-hearted Minnie spills the matzo ball soup she was making for Shabbat dinner, the frogs who live in a nearby pond spring into action. They decide to save Minnie's Shabbat by making a new pot of soup while she is out -- a mitzvah from one neighbor to another. Together, the frogs work through the recipe, meeting every challenge with an amphibian solution: chopping carrots by playing leapfrog, using a long sticky tongue to pull a cookbook off a shelf, and giving each other a helping hop wherever they can.

My Review: 

Kids (and adults) will love this book from the first line: "One sunny morning, Minnie Feinsilver cooked dinner instead of breakfast."  She is making Shabbat dinner for her cousins but accidentally spills her matzo ball soup! The frogs in the pond next door decide that they will make the soup while Minnie is gone for the day. Matzo Frogs highlights teamwork and good deeds, with a mini-cooking lesson thrown in by some fun, cute frogs.  This book is great not only for Jewish children but also as a teaching tool to explain a small aspect of the Jewish faith.     

Kirkus Reviews says, "The story's amusing arc with its altruistic message culminates with a sculpted matzo-ball frog left as a floating clue in the soup, prompting one more mitzvah in grateful acknowledgment. A Jewish audience will appreciate the overall significance of the concept and context; Gentiles will get a kick out of the kind frogs."

Bestselling children's book authors Eric Kimmel, Daniel Pinkwater, and Michelle Edwards all loved Matzo Frogs. Read their favorable comments and learn more about the book at http://www.newsouthbooks.com/matzofrogs.

** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **