Matzah Ball

Aaron is excited when he is invited to join other members of his softball team at a major league baseball game, but his feelings quickly turn to disappointment when his mother points out that since the game takes place during Passover, Aaron will have to take a kosher-for-Passover bag lunch with him instead of buying all the usual ballpark goodies. Things go from bad to worse when his (non-Jewish) friends eat up all of his matzah, macaroons, etc., and then leave him alone as they go off to the concession stand. Suddenly, a mysterious old man shows up to befriend the unhappy Aaron and recounts his childhood visits to Ebbets Field during Passover, when the stands were filled with kids eating matzah. He hands Aaron a piece of his own matzah, which the boy then uses to miraculously catch a home run ball. But when Aaron turns around to thank his benefactor, the old man is gone. Can it be...??? I have read this book aloud with great success to many kindergarteners and first graders in my yeshiva library--the boys really get a kick out of combining Passover and baseball.

My son couldn't get enough of this book. Its baseball "spin" is captivating, especially at a time of the year when many are beginning to think about or enjoy the sport. I especially liked the message that being a Jew isn't always easy, but it is important to "do the right thing."