Inspiring PBs for the Jewish New Year

Original Post: 9/2/24 on CBA Blogfish

The Jewish High Holidays are coming soon, making this a good time to look at related picture books. Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of the world and a fresh start for a new year. It ushers in a period of atonement for both the individual and the community. This culminates on Yom Kippur, when the community comes together in repentance for sins committed over the previous year, seeking the blessings of forgiveness and a sweet year. The sounding of the shofar, a ram’s horn, marks the beginning and end of this significant period.
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Here are two books that help children value and understand the traditions that infuse these holidays.

​In Not So Fast, Max, Rosh Hashanah is the context for an SEL story.  Young Max is challenged to develop the patience to savor family bonds and traditions. When his Savta (grandmother) arrives from Israel, he pulls her into the house, urging her to hurry up. Max is eager for Savta to fulfill her promise to make caramel apples – a variation of the traditional apples in honey, symbol of a sweet year. But Savta is not in a hurry. She takes Max and his sister Emily to pick the apples. Max grumps, grumbles, and glowers. In contrast, Emily enjoys each moment with Savta: picking apples, learning Hebrew words, and savoring the traditions and meaning of the holiday.

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Max begins to shed his moodiness when Savta gets him playing with apples. He needs patience to succeed at apple-toss and juggling. Then, when they’ve picked enough apples, Max is no longer in a hurry to go home. He agrees there is time to sit at the picnic bench and listen to holiday memories from Savta’s childhood. Max even suggests they stay to pick a few more apples!
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Not So Fast, Max is bursting with the joy of holiday and family traditions. The story is sprinkled with Hebrew words and, through Savta, conveys a connection to Israel. It also includes recipes for Savta’s Apple Cake and Max’s Caramel Apples!

For young children, Three Jumps to Sorry provides a light introduction to the solemn concept of atonement.

The day before Yom Kippur, Hannah awakens in a bad mood. She says unkind words to her brother and makes a mess in her room. Her mother is frustrated, especially when Hannah repeatedly says, “Sorry!” in a silly, loud, and insincere voice. When her mother says this was not a "real apology," Hannah acts out. She kicks her soccer ball toward the coffee table. It hits and breaks a glass apple, her mother’s favorite Rosh Hashanah decoration. Hannah tops this off by saying, “It’s not my fault!”

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Hannah’s mother devises a game to teach Hannah how to apologize. She sets out three paper squares, labeled 1, 2, 3. Hannah jumps on each in turn, completing one step of an apology and thereby earning permission to jump to the next. In this way, Hannah accomplishes these three steps of an apology:

1. Admit you did something wrong.
2. Feel bad about what you did and wish you hadn’t done it.
3. Try your very best to never do it again.

Hannah earnestly undertakes each step of this game. At step 1, she states exactly what she did wrong. At step 2, she thinks about her mother’s “sad face,” and she notices the bad feelings in her own heart and throat. At step 3, she makes a plan for what to do next time. Hannah’s considered, sincere responses earn her high praise from her mom – and a hug. They also provide an excellent model for young readers learning what a “real apology” is, and how to accomplish it.

The adults in the stories nudge each child in a constructive direction without lecturing. Savta engages Max in games that require patience. His focus shifted, Max finds himself enjoying the and even prolonging family time at the apple orchard. Hannah’s mom initiates the 3-jumps game, but Hannah independently and thoughtfully implements each step of the apology.

Wishing everyone a sweet new year,
filled with gratitude, appreciation, and kindness!