The Day I Became a Potato Pancake

"Young inventor Naomi Hirsch and her best friend Ben Sherman love playing with her scientist mother’s inventions, like the hologram simulation program. But when they break into Professor Hirsch’s lab after being banned, they find something even more powerful: the Transfogram, “an experimental machine” that accidentally turns Ben into a human-sized latke. Naomi’s mother endeavors to develop an antidote before Ben’s transformation becomes permanent at sundown on the first night of Hanukkah, but Ben’s sudden boost in popularity among his classmates makes him reluctant to be human again. Kaplan (96 Facts About Bad Bunny) maintains gravitas amid silly circumstances by utilizing emotional dialogue centered on character relationships and growth. Singaporean illustrator Xu’s brightly colored art showcases facial expressions that emphasize the struggle between knowing what’s right and letting go of something that makes one feel special. This speculative, character-focused graphic novel highlights aspects of Jewish identity and culture through multiple lenses to craft a goofy yet nuanced read. Naomi and (human) Ben have tan skin. Back matter includes an art activity." —Publisher's Weekly

"How could I resist a graphic novel about a boy who turns into a latke? In 'The Day I Became a Potato Pancake' by Arie Kaplan with illustrations by Beilin Xu (Apples & Honey Press), best friends Ben and Naomi should know better than to sneak into Naomi's mother's secret lab. After all, her mother has forbidden them to enter many times. But that just makes the lab more intriguing. Unfortunately, although Ben should also know better than to touch anything, he can’t resist pushing one of the buttons, one that turns him into a potato pancake.

At first, Ben is upset, but, as he lets people know what happened, he begins to enjoy the notoriety. After all, a walking, talking latke is a great novelty. But there is a problem: if Naomi’s mom can’t discover an antidote before the week is over, Ben will have to spend the rest of his life as a human fried potato. To complicate matters, someone else – someone out of this world – is interested in Ben.

OK, so 'The Day I Became a Potato Pancake' is silly, but it is also great fun. The drawings add to its appeal: Xu does a wonderful and convincing job of making Ben look like a latke with a human personality. In fact, he looks so appealing, readers will understand Ben’s temptation to remain a potato. The novel is perfect for middle graders and anyone with a great sense of whimsy." —The Reporter, Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton