Also illustrated by Paul Meisel: Why Are the Ice Caps Melting?: The Dangers of Global Warming (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Paul Meisel Grades PreK-3 32 pages Holiday House March 2010 Library Binding     As the season starts to change, a Type-A little red hen realizes that she needs to start the preparations for the matzah she intends to serve at her spring Passover seder. Since she knows it will be a lot of work, she reaches out to her friends (a sheep, a horse and a dog) for their assistance at each step of the process. Unfortunately, when she is ready to plant the wheat, none of them were willing to help her with the task: “Not I,” says the sheep. “Sorry, bub,” says the horse. “Think again,” mutters the dog in a rude tone. After a few months pass and the wheat is ready to be harvested, she receives similar responses - the dog even makes it clear they are her friends and not her servants! The friends of the hen let her cut the wheat and prepare it for the special Passover mill all on her own. She is also left without assistance as she grinds the flour, carries the sacks home, and prepares the matzah (following the recipe provided in the book). Every time there is work to be done, she reaches out to her friends, who consistently refuse to lend her a helping hand. After the entire seder meal is prepared, the hen is surprised to see her friends at her door, ready to be invited to the festive meal. Although she considers turning them away, she recalls a central theme included in the Passover Haggadah (let all who are hungry come and eat) and decides to be a “mensch” and invite them to the celebration. The Yiddish terms sprinkled through the book add an element of humor that enhance the charm of this book and make it unique - the hen exclaims “Oy gevalt!” when her friends refuse to provide assistance, and she references the fact her friends have “chutzpah” for showing up for her celebratory meal. The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah is a sweet story that will introduce readers to some of the fundamental traditions associated with holiday. Specifically, the making of the matzah and the preparation for the seder meal are introduced, and the author provides a glossary and some additional supplemental information. The appeal of this book is enhanced by the hen’s gracious actions to her friends who did not act as one would expect good friends to behave, as well as the vibrant illustrations that are a perfect complement to this heartwarming story.     web reviews   Lori West/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)