By
– October 10, 2011
“The seder is over and it’s time to look for the matzoh,” so begins the first Jewish content inaccuracy in this colorfully illustrated lift the flaps board book. Rabbit, duck, lamb, and turtle are gathered around a table set with empty plates and wine goblets. Each cute animal searches for the matzoh in a different room of the house. Turtle searches the kitchen where instead of matzoh he finds a melting ice cream cone, a flour canister and two cupcakes, foods that are traditionally not found in a Passover kitchen. Aside from the mention of seder and matzoh this book is void of any Jewish teachings, values or symbols. The illustrations are colorful and cute, but the objects found under the flaps do not make sense. For example, penguins are found in the freezer and mouse asleep in a bed is found in a suitcase. Geared for ages 3 and up The Great Matzoh Hunt is uninteresting and has nothing to offer besides its colorful illustrations. Pre-school.
Ilka Gordon has a Masters in Education from Boston University and an M.L.I.S. from Kent State University. She is a librarian at Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland.