This sweet family story illustrates the traditional requirement to remove all leaven, even crumbs, from the house the night before Passover starts. Removal is performed after dark by the light of a candle, with a specific prayer and the antique implements of a feather and spoon. In this story, middle child Benjy wants to hold the candle and lead the hunt. To do so, he must clean up his bedroom floor, which is covered with toys. Older sister Naomi taunts him, telling him he will never get the chore done in time. Baby sister Shira cries because everyone in the household is so busy preparing for the holiday that theyve left her with no playmates. Benjy agrees to play with her before he starts to clean. He creates a mock breadcrumb hunt using paper balls.
While his baby sister eagerly wanders about his room finding them, he sings the blessing, which she learns from repetition. As it gets dark, they use a flashlight. Their chants summon Naomi back to the room, where she discovers that Shira knows the prayer. Not only that, shes been picking up Benjys toys as shes searched for the fake breadcrumbs. Naomi agrees to help finish cleaning so Benjy can lead the hunt. The story ends with Benjy getting his wish and the loving family celebrating together. The endnote explains chametz, a word not included in the story itself.
While this picture book is clearly for Jewish readers who are familiar with Passover, the endnote captures the universal themes of being overwhelmed by a big chore and getting into a holiday mood. Chametz hunting meets sibling bonding in this cute and informative read. Ellen G. Cole, Jewish Book Council
When this picture book begins, Benjys room is too messy for tonights bdikat chameitz, a pre-Passover tradition of searching for breadcrumbs explained accessibly in the text; the Hebrew term is identified in the authors note. Younger sister Shira is looking for someone to play with her, so Benjy though he feels he doesnt have time since his room needs cleaning invents a game of searching for paper balls around the room to help Shira practice for tonight. While young readers learn about bdikat chameitz from this activity, they also have the chance to pick up on the way the game is helping to solve Benjys original problem.
The book provides a useful starting point for thinking about how to approach a problem that seems overwhelming, an aspect also addressed in the authors note. A mix of full-bleed illustrations and vignettes provides variety.
Benjys Messy Room is recommended for classrooms and collections serving primary readers and their families. Shoshana Flax, Association of Jewish Libraries
If only Benjy can put away all his toys, hell get to lead his familys hunt for chametz on the evening before Passover. Its Benjys favorite ritual where hell hide small packets of bread crumbs that his family will have to find. To Benjys surprise, when he gets distracted playing with his younger sister, he discovers that turning the chore into fun is the perfect solution. Jewish Telegraphic Agency
