The Matzah That Papa Brought Home [Hardcover]

Fran Manushkin (Author), Ned Bittinger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1995 | Age Level: 4 and up

Bringing cherished Passover traditions to life, a new book by the author of Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story includes a short history of the Passover story, lively illustrations, cumulative verse, and an explanation of holiday symbols.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bittinger's background as a portrait painter shines throughout the luminous holiday scenes in his picture book debut. One family's celebration of Passover gets off to a happy start as a bearded patriarch arrives home, laden with shopping bags, his three children clamoring to view the contents. From that opening, Manushkin constructs a "House That Jack Built" version of the celebration: "This is the Passover Seder we shared/ to eat the feast that Mama made/ with the matzah that Papa brought home." Though her cumulative text deserves applause-the rhymes remain easy and unforced as all the familiar aspects of the ritual are enumerated-it's the people here, and the visual details, that tell the tale. Occasionally reminiscent of Ted Rand's work, Bittinger's character studies are gems: from the glowing face of the daughter clutching her Haggadah to the almost surreal evocation of the plagues of Egypt to the study of many hands grasping at the feast table's bounty, these are illustrations to savor. Ages 2-7.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?A charming rephrasing of the traditional cumulative song "Had Gadya" that captures all the excitement, magic, inspiration, high jinks, and eventual exhaustion of a family celebrating a Passover Seder. Here, instead of a goat, the poem revolves around the matzah that Papa brings home, which inspires the feast that Mama makes, the seder they all share, etc. While the text is well done and great fun, the illustrations, rendered in oils, are stellar. Each masterful painting has a subtext. The family members are constantly moving or gesturing?while some are intent on praying or singing, a girl is shushing the dog, and a boy is intent on stealing the matzah. During the recapitulation of the plagues, the artist depicts real frogs and locusts jumping out of the wine glasses. The search for the hidden afikomen is positively frenetic, and the picture of the youngest child standing tall and proud (and still) to ask the Four Questions has great impact. Three pages at the end tell the story of Passover. A unique, lively offering.?Marcia Posner, Federation of New York and the Jewish Book Council, New York City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (February 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590471465
• ISBN-13: 978-0590471466
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,431,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I come from a family of six, in Chicago and after I came to New York worked as children's book editor at Harper & Row. It was Charlotte Zoltow at Harpers who encouraged me to write, and I'm so glad that she did You can reach me at www.franmanushkin.com. My web site has many photos and sketches from my books as well as detailed information about school visits.You can also see two short animations for THE SHIVERS IN THE FRIDGE.
I am co-chair of PEN American Center's Children's Book Committee. PEN fights for freedom of expression and I'm so proud to be a part of it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, richly-textured memories brought to life!, June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Matzah That Papa Brought Home (Hardcover)

This book, especially the illustrations, captures all the warmth and poignancy of family sedars. The subtleties in the pictures (Papa's hand clutching the son's arm, who is reaching for the matzah; the child asleep on the table; the many conversations being held at once) bring back so many childhood memories. A beautifully written and magnificently illustrated book for all ages!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Life!, April 10, 2001

By 

Madwoman in the Attic (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Matzah That Papa Brought Home (Passover Titles) (Paperback)

Although this is a child's book, like Tevye, it drinks to life. It's a real seder! No one sits down! Someone spills something. A kid falls alseep! The tateh can read and see naughtiness out of the same eye! Here is genuine glee and warmth. A well-meaning Protestant reviewer called its form "The House that Jack Built," but it is, of course, "Chad Gadyoh" Everything in the contextual information at the back is clear and accurate - I used it at a seder for a mixed crowd who, after they understood the references, fell in love with the rhymes. And with the girl who Reads the Four Questions Nice and Loud.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About the Seder., May 3, 2002

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Matzah That Papa Brought Home (Passover Titles) (Paperback)

This wonderful little book uses a repetitious pattern (ala "A Hole in the Ground" or "The House that Jack Built") to explain the events of a family Passover Seder. The text is full of rhythm and the illustrations are beautiful, warm, and soft bringing to life the closeness of community and illustrating the importance of family during such an important celebration. Those familiar with the traditions described herein will enjoy the book for the memories it can help evoke and those unfamiliar with such things as "matzah", "Dayenu", and "afikoman" will delight in learning about them.