Matzah Belowstairs

Two loving Jewish families live at the Winkler house: “Abovestairs” are the Winklers themselves; “Belowstairs”—under the floorboards—is the Mouse family. All the inhabitants are anticipating Passover, but the Mouse family’s preparations are in crisis: the Winklers have put their matzah in a new, impenetrable tin (“Nobody could chew through that,” says Grandpa Mouse), and how can the Mouses have their Seder if they can’t forage for matzah? Leave it to the youngest, smallest members of each family—Eli Winkler and Miriam Mouse—to solve the problem: they turn the ancient ritual of finding the afikoman into an opportunity to restock the Mouses’ matzah supply. Meyer’s breezy, brief text lifts the story, and Engell’s wide-eyed, anxious mice should resonate with readers experiencing their own family’s holiday-related shpilkes. Ages 4–8. [em](Feb.) [/em]