AFIKOMAN, WHERE'D YOU GO?

An inspired twist lets everyone participate in a Passover tradition.

A delightful part of any seder is when the children in attendance scour the house in search of the afikoman, a hidden piece of unleavened bread. This tale allows readers to experience the fun for themselves—without even eating any horseradish. The scene is set as a diverse group crowds around the seder table, including a sneaky anthropomorphized afikoman with a face and stick arms and legs, clearly about to dash off. A chair has been saved for Elijah, complete with a note and a Haggadah on the seat. With a cheeky grin, the afikoman makes an appearance on the title page and leads readers on a merry chase throughout the book. As a group of young cousins searches each room of the house, Gardyn Levington’s bouncy verse propels the plot forward. With rhythm and repetition, this book has the makings of a storytime hit. Kelner rivals Where’s Waldo? illustrator Martin Handford in her ability to find unusual hiding places on purposefully busy and imaginatively designed spreads. The artwork is charming, allowing sharp-eyed readers to outwit the book’s characters and locate the afikoman on every page. Though a glossary defines terms such as seder and matzah, those seeking more detailed explanations of Passover may want to supplement this title with other resources.

Joyful, interactive holiday fun.