How It's Made: Matzah

Gr 3–5—The first two-thirds of this book supports the title's objective by examining handmade and factory techniques for baking the traditional Passover unleavened bread, and providing related history and activities. The last third branches out into a discussion of other Passover foods and objects, returning to the topic of matzah on the final page with a description of the afikomen (the hidden matzah). The expectations set up by the title are confounded by the pages covering seder plates, charoset, Elijah's cup, and so on, making the content unfocused. The busy layout relies on a mix of large and small photos. The concluding page contains a find-the-afikomen maze; this implies an invitation to write in the pages and will not be appreciated by librarians. That said, credit must be given for the inclusion of a few Jews of color in the photos (and on the cover). The information, while simplified for young readers, is solid. However, the design and organization of the text leave something to be desired.