Customer Reviews

The Matzo Ball Boy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One day, the author, Lisa Shulman (author and a former classroom teacher), was making soup while her daughters read the Gingerbrad Man story. OY! BING! Inspiration. The Matzo Ball Boy was born. With lovely deep reds and oranges, chicken soup yellows, and forest greens, we read the story of a childless bube, who is preparing for a lonely Passover meal. A shanda. When, oy, her matzo ball comes alive. A Matzo Boy Boy is born. Boy, Shmoy he tells her. He is a man, and off to make his way in the world and not in a soup bowl. He runs and she gives chase. As do the tailor, the rabbi, the yenta, and a wolf that is not as smart as he thought. In the forest, the matzo ball boy gets tired and hungry; he meets up with a poor man who isn't interested in giving chase. Let all who are hungry come and eat, so the boy comes to the poor man's cottage. When the matzo ball boy leans over to check out the poor family's soup... This humorous tale is a must have for your seder table or bookcase. Includes not a "glass tea" but something better, a glossary of 14 Jewish words

This modern Jewish American take on the classic "Gingerbread Man" fairy tale is filled with funny plot twists, clever Yiddish-isms, and beautiful illustrations. The ultimate "thanks-for-inviting-us-to-your-Seder" gift!

What a clever twist on an old classic. I was given this book as a gift and all three of my children (ages 4-13) thought it was great. We are not Jewish and really enjoyed the yiddish mixed in to the tale, very educational. This is a wonderful gift idea.

I've never liked the Gingerbread Man story -- and generally dislike stories where the main character gets eaten in the end. But everyone in my family including me thinks this is hysterical. That said, I think it might be one of those books you either love or hate, depending on what sorts of things you might find funny.

The older children (and adults) will "get" some of the humor more than the younger kids. But with the recommended ages starting at kindergarten, I think that's right on target.

Very creative book.

I am a first grade teacher and every winter we teach "holidays around the world." I like to incorporate different cultures as much as I can. This book is hilarious, witty, suspensful, and full of Passover lingo. I love to use this book to practice comparing texts with my students. We make a Venn-diagram and describe the similarities and differences of The Matzo Ball Boy with The Gingerbread Man. Enjoy! Oy!

If you like using character voices when reading to your children, this is the book for you-- it even tells you how to pronounce the words if you're unfamiliar with them. Good illustrations, a fun twist on the old story, and I loved the ending.

First, let me reveal my bias. I don't like the story of the gingerbread man - the story that the Matzo Ball Boy mimics. Anytime a character is anthropomorphised by showing a desire to live and is successful as a result of some level of intelligence and yet gets destroyed at the end - I get a little bummed out. I certainly wouldn't enjoy reading this to a child never mind explaining the celebrated cruetly at the end of the story. I just received it as a gift for my child and fortunately looked at it first - sparing her of any unpleasant image of a cute character dying and then being consumed by the brilliant people who were - yes, smart enough to outsmart a matza ball.