Meet the Hamantaschen

by Alan Silberberg

You've met the latkes, you've met the matzah...now it's time to meet the hamantaschen in this zany Purim story!

There's a problem with Purim!

The Purim play is about to start, but the megillah is missing! Without the scroll that recounts the Purim story, how can the show go on? Never three determined hamantaschen—

DETECTIVES!

Right. Three determined DETECTIVES are on the case. With the help of a mysterious stranger and a few disguises, the detectives uncover the facts so the true story of Purim can be told.

In this companion to Meet the Latkes and Meet the Matzah , holiday mistellings have never been so fun.

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Holiday, Childrens, Mystery, Religion, Humor

36 pages, Hardcover

Published February 8, 2022

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Meet the Hamanstaschen: A Purim Mystery” (Viking) was my introduction to Alan Silberberg’s work. How I missed “Meet the Latkes” and “Meet the Matzah” is beyond me, because his latest work is exactly the kind of funny, strange, food-related holiday tale I enjoy. It reminds me of the “Fractured Fairy Tales” segments that appeared in the original “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.” Silberberg’s work is basically a fractured holiday tale, which features a mystery, characters who are food and a child-friendly version of the Purim story.
See the rest of the review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/stre....

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so happy to find this picturebook celebrating Purim. It is a celebration of the holiday in a playful but informative way. It also gives a wonderful introduction to the holiday, for those who are not Jewish.


I found some of the writing/repeated refrains to be a little poorly constructed—but I’m still thrilled to add it to my collection.

[Clementine · Rating 3 out of 5]

i loved the inclusion of jewish holiday food and think there's some genuine humor here. but i also thought it was too long, too text-heavy, and that the narrative was awkwardly constructed in a way that might confusing for some.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Viking Books for Young Readers through Edelweiss+.
Silberberg uses pastries to tell the Purim story. The three hamantaschen are detectives charged with finding the missing Purim Megillah by someone in a disguise. They set out to interrogate the actors putting on the play and learn about the true story rather than the false facts in the case file. Readers learn along with them. In the end, the three narrate the story as the actors share it on stage. The illustrations are colorful and fun to study.
Terrific book for families to share together. As readers learn their heritage story, they can interact with the case file and narrate as well.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love stories that teach me about holidays, customs, and traditions from other faiths and cultures but I felt left in the dust from the first page of this picture book. It felt really frantic and chaotic and was difficult just to read much less attempt to read it out loud with my children. It's very text dense and the storyline is hard to follow.

[Viviane Elbee]

Meet the Hamantaschen: A Purim Mystery is a very cartoony book about three tasty hamantaschen who are detectives, trying to find the missing Megillah (the scroll on which the Purim story is written), and who end up uncovering the Purim story.

Families who are looking for books about Purim for their kids may enjoy this one.

[Leova Manbhat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of the Holiday Purim as told by different Jewish pastries. The book makes the story feel new but confusing start. You need to wait until the ending part to make sense of it.

Good book if you are looking for a "newer" book for Purim.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delve into the biblical story of Queen Esther via a mystery of the missing megillah that must be found before the Purim play can be performed. It's up to the three Hamantaschen detectives to solve the mystery and return the missing megillah.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

We listened to the read-aloud version of this book and I am so glad we did. I am not Jewish and there were lots of words that would have been hard to pronounce.
We liked the music and special effects too.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a companion book to Meet the Latkes & Meet the Matzah and I LOVE all three!

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bright, busy, bold! Humor and history rolled into one picture book!

[SamSamSam · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you don't already know the story, you're going to be SO confused.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter loved the idea of a Purim book (especially one that isn't just historical and has fun premise), but found the story a bit hard to follow.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute and fun!

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Purim pastries are also detectives and set out to find the missing megillah. Bright colorful illustrations and repetitive phrases tell the Purim story in a cute humorous manner. This book is prefect for preschool and elementary kids.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Purim mystery is afoot! This is a fun picture book about Purim for the pre-k to early elementary set and the third in a series featuring Jewish holiday food. Great illustrations!