Afikotective

After a bear family assembles the ingredients for a seder plate, the cub narrator of this celebratory title dons not a traditional yarmulke, but rather a Sherlock Holmes–esque deerstalker cap—all the better to solve the mystery of where Grandma has hidden the afikomen. To ensure success, the cub has invented an “Afiko-Sniffer” from a beloved elephant stuffy named Elfie, which is mounted on a wheeled platform pulled by a red string. Hoffman chronicles the duo’s hunt around the house with cozy, collage-style artwork that features crayon and paper textures, and paper cutouts that lend a 3-D feel. But before a big, cursive “Yay” heralds the quest’s success, Elfie sniffs out an array of other seder meal ingredients, prompting a refrain of “Oh no!” and a brief explanation of the ingredient’s role (“That’s an egg—like the egg we put on our seder plate”). It’s a friendly, and instructive, holiday affair. An author’s note concludes. Ages 2–7. (Jan.)