Matzo Ball Moon

by Lesléa Newman, Elaine Greenstein (Illustrator)

Eleanor's grandmother, Bubbe, makes chicken soup with matzo balls every Passover, and this year is no exception. With Eleanor's help, Bubbe makes some of the lumpiest, bumpiest, yummiest-looking matzo balls Eleanor has ever seen. These matzo balls are so delicious that no one in Eleanor's family can resist sneaking a taste, each thinking one or two matzo balls will never be missed. But when it comes time to serve the soup at the Passover meal, there aren't enough matzo balls for everyone-until Eleanor find one last matzo ball in a very unexpected place! Expressive, cheerful illustrations complement this warm story of a family's celebration of the Passover holiday and their rediscovery of its true meaning.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Judaism

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 1998

About the author

Lesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.

Reviews

[Khai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet book about Passover from the perspective of a Jewish young girl and her family. It's very nostalgic to read, and makes me crave fresh matzo balls soup and charoses. It's nice to read a book that casts a Jewish story and holiday as the norm, and captures what growing up in a Jewish family can feel like around the holidays.

I love the idea of a matzo ball moon!

[Esther Kruman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet gem of a picturebook. I'm posting a review because I noticed a few low-star reviews from non-Jewish readers, with the critique that non-Jewish kids won't really understand the book. While I certainly applaud these reviewers for wanting to educate their children about different cultures, I think it's important to recognize that this book is typically intended for *Jewish* children. As a Jewish child, you don't see yourself as an Other, and it's extremely important that you have books that are *from* your perspective, rather than *about* it. Yes, there is obviously enormous value in representation within mainstream culture, but self-representation is equally necessary.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a family preparing a meal for Passover. While the story itself doesn't include much info about Passover, this picture book includes additional info about the Passover Seder at the back of the book. My daughter found the tale predictable, but appreciated the representation.

[Ginta · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Matzo Ball Moon” is about a grandmother, Bubbe, who visits her family during Passover and makes these delicious matzo balls. The story ends with Eleanor and Bubbe sharing a tender moment gazing at the sky watching the “matzo ball moon” (which is actually a full moon).

“Matzo Ball Moon” is a culturally specific book. For readers who may not be familiar with Passover the holiday is explained in the back of the book. The Seder is included in the actual story but is not discussed in great detail.

The story centers on the making and tastiness of the matzo balls Bubbe prepares. The significance of Passover is not discussed and I would have liked it to be. Although information about Passover is included in the back of the book, I would have preferred it to be part of the story. A teacher who chooses to read this book with their students would be doing so for entertainment only, not to inform. The story is fictional so the author would probably argue that it was not written to inform, but I think an opportunity to explain an important Jewish tradition was missed.

I am not Jewish but I have friends who are. A person of the Jewish faith would read this book and probably have a completely different perspective from mine. I think the book is culturally authentic. The Seder was discussed in the story and the author included a little information in the story about what Seder entails. I do feel the book provided a window into an aspect of the Jewish faith, although the window was a little foggy, not clear enough for me.

My rating for this book is two stars. The story was entertaining but I think the author missed an opportunity to inform. This book would have been a nice prelude for a teacher to begin a discussion on the significance of Passover, particularly for students (such as mine) who have not had exposure to the richness and quality of the Jewish faith.

[Inez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matzo Ball Moon takes place during the Jewish holiday of Passover and Eleanor's grandmother is coming over to make her infamous and delicious matzo ball soup. Eleanor nor her family can hold their anticipation for the Passover Seder dinner where the soup will be served that they start swiping Grandma's matzo balls before the meal! While they enjoy the matzo balls, by the time dinner time rolls around, there aren't enough for everyone to enjoy.
This book gives a simple overview to young readers of the celebration of Passover and teaches religious respect for other's beliefs, like the opening of the door to metaphorically welcome Elijah, the prophet.

[Alyse Liebovich · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really only liked this because of the idea of the moon looking like a matzo ball. The rest of the story is nostalgic for me because of the Bubbe aspect and the traditions surrounding Passover, however I don't think any kids who aren't Jewish will really understand the significance behind everything** and therefore the story comes across kind of dull for the general reader. I will say, however, that I would have felt pretty special finding any kind of Jewish holiday-themed book in the library when I grew up as practically the only Jewish kid in school.

**There is a one-page "About Passover" section at the end of the story, which may help further understanding of the holiday.

[Dulce · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Ed 230 class only
Themes and topics
- family unity
- traditions and customs
- food and culture: what special dish does your family make?
Activity
- make matzo ball soup w class
- create class recipe book

[Jen]

This book includes good explanations of Passover traditions. (Choice)