Review by Booklist Review
Following in the steps of the zany and improbable alien potatoes and fighting bees of Meet the Latkes (2018), Silberberg extends the fun to another Jewish holiday: Purim. The hilarity of hamantaschen detectives--in goofy disguises, no less--fits right into the carnivalesque holiday spirit. The detectives interrogate the characters of the Purim story, each represented by an actor who is also a traditional Jewish food. As the detectives learn more, they repeat, "We know what we knew . . . But now what we know is . . . ," listing items in a cumulative fashion. The cartoonish art adds to the silliness of the story and wordplay, although it's sometimes hard to distinguish what foods the characters are meant to be until they introduce themselves. In the end, the hamantaschen detectives succeed in piecing together the Purim story, restoring the joy of the holiday, and accepting themselves for who they truly are. Although the madcap story can be a bit hard to follow, readers will likely be laughing too hard to care.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--Silberberg offers a humorous picture book celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim in this companion to Meet the Latkes and Meet the Matzah. Three hamantaschen detectives and a shadowy stranger must unveil what happened to the megillah, the scroll that is read during the Purim festivity. Using disguises and following clues, the detectives embrace solving the mystery, interrogating the lively characters representing Queen Esther, Vashti, King Ahasuerus, Haman, and Mordecai. Digital illustrations are in pastel colors of green, pink, purple, and brown. The narrative, presented in panels and full-spread illustrations, moves the plot forward in speech bubbles and text, using repetition that could engage children during story time. The text also employs vocabulary words that enhance the reading of this book. The back matter includes a glossary of relevant terms. VERDICT A creative picture book that uses humor to teach children about Purim and its lessons of courage.--Kathia Ibacache, Univ. of Colorado Boulder
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Silberberg returns with another comedic Jewish holiday story in this whodunit spoof. The story opens in a detective agency run by a trio of anthropomorphic Hamantaschen, the triangular pastries traditionally eaten during the Jewish holiday of Purim. They receive a phone call from a mysterious stranger who presents them with a Purim problem: The megillah (a scroll bearing the biblical narrative known as the book of Esther) is missing, and without it the story of Purim cannot be told. Numerous questions and "false facts" lead the detectives to interview all of the suspects, who are also anthropomorphic Jewish foods and happen to be characters in the annual Purim play. There is the banished Queen Vashti, King Ahasuerus, the heroine Queen Esther, her uncle Mordecai, and, of course, the evil Haman. The three clueless detectives learn much about the Jewish holiday from the play characters en route to the amusing ending when the mystery is finally solved. This hilarious rib of the crime noir drama adds a few contemporary twists to the legend of Purim (for example, Esther has a modern-day diary that is quickly discounted as not being the real book of Esther) but manages to relay the key, traditional elements. Children will get a kick out of the illustrations which incorporate speech bubbles, comic book--style sound effects, and an abundance of wacky details. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A fun and foodie-friendly parody that illuminates the origin of the Purim festival for young readers. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
