Review: And Eddie Had an Egg

And Eddie Had an Egg

by Dina Leifer, illustrated by Sharon Spitz

Green Bean Books, 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Jodie Sadowsky

 

Buy at Green Bean Books

For Eddie, Dad’s salmon is “too fishy,” Mum’s barley soup is “yuck,” and her spinach lasagna, “[t]oo green, too cheesy.” Eggs are safe for this “fussy eater,” and the only food Eddie eats while his family enjoys special meals on Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Hanukkah and Shavuot. Admirably, Eddie’s family patiently accept his fussiness, without nagging or nudging, pushing or prodding. To their surprise, Eddie decides to try eggplant during one Shabbat dinner, and to their greater shock, Eddie likes it!

When Eddie’s mom congratulates him for trying something new, Eddie realizes that the new dish only shares a name with his favorite food and is not actually an “egg plant.” Still, he feels proud for trying something new, and bravely continues trying new foods with satisfying results. By the time Passover arrives, Eddie enjoys trying all the foods on the seder plate. In a final understated but humorous beat, every member of the family enjoys an egg.

The illustrations depict a warm and tidy family home with kid-made art on the wall. The four family members (mom, dad, sister, Eddie) have varying skin tones and hair colors. Their pets — a cat and a dog — get into the action in nearly every spread and will be fun for readers to spot their silly appearances. Eddie’s facial expressions are charming, especially the amusing stink-eye he disapprovingly gives the salmon platter while holding his hands up in absolute refusal. This is a sweet, funny and relatable story about a picky eater, and his accidental entry into a joyful discovery of new tastes and textures.

The story contains authentic Jewish representation and content woven throughout the story’s text and art. The backmatter contains an Ashkenazi barley soup recipe. The storyline is not disrupted with descriptions of the traditions behind the menu for each holiday meal, but sweet dishes are served on Rosh Hashanah, fried foods on Hanukkah, and a dairy dish for Shavuot. The illustrations depict more Jewish traditions: paper chains during Sukkot, a menorah on Hanukkah and challah, candles and wine during Shabbat. The holidays themselves are named, but some of the traditions might not be recognized by non-observant or non-Jewish readers. The only Hebrew term (given in transliteration) is “kol hakavod,” with textual context to show its meaning. Non-Jewish readers will relate to the central storyline about Eddie becoming a braver eater and to warm family gatherings for a variety of different Jewish holidays.

 

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Reviewer Jodie Sadowsky is the author of a forthcoming children’s book, A Sukkah for Bella, releasing in Summer 2025 with Lovevery Books, and essays appearing in Kveller, The Forward, Jewish Women’s Archive, Tablet Magazine, The Huffington Post, CNN, and more. Jodie serves on her local library board and the selection committee for the Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature.