That's what Max thinks. Max needs his daddy's help—right now!—to bake a surprise Passover birthday cake for his mommy. But as baby Trudy fusses instead of napping, and Daddy tries to settle her down, their time to bake is slipping away.

It’s a story of a little boy (Max), who wants to make a birthday cake for his mom’s birthday. His little sister Trudy is making a ruckus – so daddy has to spend time with her. Needless to say, Max decides to make the birthday cake all on his own. A very juvenile book – not recommended. - Karen S. ( )

For his mom's birthday during Passover. ( )

Introducing March’s Passover PJ library book!

Meet Max, who wants to bake a surprise Passover birthday cake for his mom. Max is a big boy, he can almost tie his shoes, and he even knows the four questions for Passover in Hebrew and English. But everyone knows that baking a cake during Passover is not so easy and one must get really creative. So Max gets to work, only he really needs the help of his dad to pull this off. But dad is too busy with Max’s fussy baby sister and so Max decides to take matters into his own hands. And that is exactly what Max does, starting with the frosting first, just in case dad makes it down in time to help.

“Why is this cake different from all other cakes?” asks Max at the end of the story. The author ties this question in beautifully with the importance of the Four Questions during the Passover Seder. This is a sweet and clever story about baking a cake with lots and lots of matzah as well as capturing a moment when a young boy realizes he can be independent. The author, Michelle Edwards, includes Max’s ingenious cake recipe along with a very brief description of the Passover Story.

Illustrations by Charles Santoso are adorable with warm and cheerful animated expressions. The illustrations were rendered with pencil on paper and then scanned and colored digitally.

Max Makes a Cake is a wonderful story that is perfect for story time during the Passover holiday and welcome in any Jewish library as well as Public libraries collections too. Recommended for ages 3-6. ( )

Max has big plans with his dad to make a birthday cake for Mommy's birthday, but has to take things into his own hands when Daddy gets distracted with taking care of Max's little sister. With creativity and taste tastes, Max makes up his own birthday cake recipe using jam, cream cheese, and matzoh that delights Mommy and leaves Max feeling grown up and capable. Very cute! ( )