Why do we eat matzah during Passover? Matzah reminds us that when Pharaoh finally greed to let us go, we had to leave Egypt fast! There was no time to get ready or to wait. Matzah is made of the same dough as bread, but we mix and bake it much faster, giving it its flat and crunchy texture.
This year, Passover begins at sundown on Monday, April 22. For many people, memories of crunchy matzah are baked right into their stories about this holiday. We’re proud to announce that we’ve teamed up with world-famous Streit’s Matzos to bring PJ Library books, activities, and our many other resources to families in the US and Canada. Look for the PJ Library logo on Streit's Matzos boxes in supermarkets or at streitsmatzos.com.
If you have a matzah-maniac at home, be sure to check out these lively picture books -- all starring matzah!
Written by Bill Wurtzel and illustrated by Claire Wurtzel, is published by Apples & Honey Press
Kitzel can’t hear himself meow. His house is teeny tiny, but his family is large and noisy. Soon his family will feel even larger and noisier, because Passover is about to begin! This story, illustrated entirely with food, is a delicious spin on a classic Yiddish folktale.
Written by Yael Mermelstein and illustrated by Carrie Hartman, is published by Kar-Ben Publishing
Izzy the Whiz is an amateur inventor who, right before Passover, creates a super-duper machine that whirs and purrs and munches and crunches and miraculously cleans the entire house just in time for the holiday -- but not without creating havoc along the way.
Written by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Paul Meisel, and published by Holiday House
Just as it happened in the original story, no one will help Little Red Hen. She makes the Passover matzah herself, but everyone wants to eat it. What's a chicken to do? A recipe for matzah and a Yiddish glossary are included.
Written by Lisa Shulman and illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger, is published by Penguin Random House
A lonely bubbe creates a matzo ball boy to keep her company during Passover. The matzo ball boy escapes from her kitchen, and before long everyone is on a mad chase to capture him.
Written by Susan Lynn Meyer, illustrated by Mette Engell, published by Kar-Ben Publishing
Miriam Mouse’s family celebrates Passover right beneath the Winkler family’s home. But this year Miriam can’t find any matzah...until Eli Winkler’s dad hides the afikomen during the seder. When Eli searches for the hidden matzah, he finds he’s got a little competition -- very little!
Written by Lesléa Newman and illustrated by Elaine Greenstein, is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Eleanor and her grandmother concoct some delectable matzo balls. When everyone takes a taste of those delicious matzo balls from the Passover soup, what will be left to eat at the seder?
Written by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Ned Bittinger, and published by Scholastic, Inc.
From sitting down at the table to eating the last bite of dessert, this beautiful look at a classic family seder all starts with -- you guessed it -- the matzah that papa brought home.
Written by Michelle Edwards, illustrated by Charles Santoso, and published by Penguin Random House.
Max wants so much to make a birthday cake for his mom...but his new baby sister keeps distracting everyone. So Max decides to take matters -- and ingredients -- into his own hands.
Written and illustrated by Alan Silberberg, is published by Penguin Random House
Alfie Koman is great at hiding. You could say it's kind of his thing! But if Alfie's in hiding, who's going to tell the story of Passover the right way? With the help of his buddy Challa Looyah, Alfie will have to come out of hiding and set the story straight.
More
Bake Your Own Matzah
All of the Passover Printables You Need
Passover Recipe: Matzah Toffee Truffles
March 15, 2024