Max Makes a Cake - Hardcover

MICHELLE EDWARDS is the author of more than sixteen books for children, some of which she illustrated, including Chicken Man, which won the National Jewish Book Award. Her newest picture book is Room for the Baby, illustrated by Jana Christy. A lifelong knitter, Michelle has also written an adult title, A Knitter's Home Companion. She lives with her family in Iowa City.

CHARLES SANTOSO has worked as an illustrator on animated feature films, most notably Legend of the Guardians, and on television commercials. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in gallery shows in Australia, North America, and France. Max Makes a Cake is his first book for children. Charles lives and works in Sydney, Australia.

The Passover story of the Jews fleeing Pharaoh blends nicely here with the story of a little boy hurrying to make a cake. Max Osher is at the age when he can do many things all by himself, such as dressing (though his yarmulke ends up a little off center) and even reciting the four questions for Passover in Hebrew and English for the seder. As Max feeds the baby, Trudy, he explains why they eat matzo on this night, because the Jewish people, once freed by Pharaoh, had to “hurry, hurry, hurry” away, with their bread on their backs. This resulted in sun-baked, cracker-like bread. Max and his father have to hurry, too, during Trudy’s nap, to make a special Passover birthday cake for Max and Trudy’s mother. But Trudy won’t nap, leaving Max alone in the kitchen facing a deadline. His construction of a “hurry, hurry, hurry” matzo cake (recipe included, natch) from matzos, cream cheese, and jam is a triumph of self-sufficiency. Warmly tinted, wood-textured illustrations fit this gentle, informative book. Preschool-Grade 2. --Connie Fletcher