Bedtime for Maziks, by Yael Levy/Illustrated by Nabila Adani, (Apr. 2022, Kar-Ben Publishing), $17.99, ISBN: 9781728424279
Ages 4-8
This adorably rhyming story is part How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?, part Where the Wild Things Are. Mazik is a Yiddish word for a mischief-maker – I know a few of those! – and sometimes, a parent may lovingly refer to their little tornadoes as maziks. Bedtime for Maziks is the story of two little maziks and how they spend their day, right up to bedtime. The two are adorably monstrous, with green and purple skin, tiny fangs and claws, and unruly hair. During the day, they play along with other children, making messes in the playroom and kitchen and causing shenanigans at the local pool. Frazzled grownups nearby complete the chaos in a way that will have little readers giggling along with the maziks as they storm through their day. When it’s bedtime, though, the maziks turn into perfectly sweet little monsters, saying “good night” and getting their nighttime kisses. The playful rhyme and artwork is a celebration of childhood in all its chaos. Hallmarks of Jewish culture run throughout the story, including an copy of Jewish Folktales laying next to one mazik as she reads on the floor, a star of David hanging over one mazik’s bed, and a family sharing a Shabbat dinner (with maziks feeding pets and spilling drinks). An adorable readaloud and a lovely purchase for collections.
Mom Read It 