Apple Days: A Rosh Hashanah Story

by Allison Sarnoff Soffer, Bob McMahon (Illustrations)

Katy's favorite holiday is Rosh Hashanah, when she gets to pick apples and make applesauce with her mother. But what happens when the tradition is interrupted by the early arrival of her baby cousin?

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Food, Childrens, Judaism, Cultural, Holiday

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2014

Reviews

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We started reading about world holidays later in the year last year, so these are our first reads about Rosh Hashanah.

I really loved this one - first the connection it makes to the harvest season, which will continue to show up in our holiday reading, and then just how lovely the sense of community is in the story. Maddie made applesauce in kindergarten as part of their fall theme and she was happy to remember and tell us all about it.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tearjerker for me. A little girl loves to go apple picking and make applesauce with her mother on Apple day. But when her aunt goes into labor early with her baby, her mother must go to help instead of taking the little girl to pick apples. But when word gets out to the community, the little girls, friends and important adults in her life make sure she gets the ingredients to make her applesauce.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of the illustration style and the story lacked to explain what the holiday was. So, if you know about Rosh Hashanah then this book is for you with a sweet story about a little girl and her applesauce. But if you're looking for a nice story about this holiday to learn about it, then this book is not for you.

[Margaret Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming new PJ Library book designed to help you and your family prepare for Rosh Hashanah. Going apple picking is a great way to prepare...and then making apple sauce is even better. But what happens if something prevents you from going apple picking. Then how do you make the applesauce? Read the book and find out.

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was this book even related to Rosh Hashanah? Really not a good book.

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like when they get to make apple sauce for Rosh Hashana.

[Rebecca Dougherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very accessible book about Rosh Hashanah traditions

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute themes.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

Katys favorite holiday is Rosh Hashanah, when she gets to pick apples and make applesauce with her mother. But what happens when the tradition is interrupted by the early arrival of her new baby cousin?


L'shanah Tovah. May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year. For those people who are gentiles like me, Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and that was (according to the internet) a typical New Year greeting. Also, as a non-Jew, I also had to look up the significance of Apples and Honey during Rosh Hashanah. In addition to symbolizing the hopes for a sweet new year, the apple represents the Shekhinah (the feminine aspect of God). Eating honey with apples represents the hope that the Shekhinah will judge kindly and look down with sweetness. There is a lot of information on this subject, but I don't want to tarry too long as it as this is a book review.

A story that really encompasses family, tradition, and fun that is often associated with holidays. Katy, must learn not only to be patient and understanding, but she also learns how to be a part of the community as well. She may not be able to go apple picking as has been family tradition, but her neighbors embrace her and her family, pitching in like a version of Stone Soup. The illustrations were vibrant and fun, but perhaps the best part is the Applesauce recipe in the back of the book. Apparently, someone wanted this book from the library so I had to return it before I got to try out the recipe. However, I plan on getting it again just to try making my own applesauce. Sounds like the perfect thing to do for fall.

Gut Yontiff!

[Jessica Valdez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this is a very adorable book that can be used in a first-grade classroom. The story itself is very brief and depicts a little girl named Katy that makes apple sauce for Rosh Hashanah every year with her mom. She tells absolutely everyone that she encounters that she is so excited for Rosh Hashanah because her and her mom will be picking the apples and making the sauce together from a recipe that Katy's mom uses. Until one day, Katy's home phone rings and her aunt tells her mom that her baby cousin is arriving sooner than they thought. Well that is when everything is cancelled because her mom has to help her sister. The next day, Katy tells everyone that she will not be picking apples and making applesauce this year because her mom is at the hospital helping her aunt. Well that is when something amazing happened. The entire community pitched in and helped Katy. Each person gave her one ingredient until Katy had everything that she would need to make her applesauce. Although the story is only about Katy and her applesauce and it is a story that students will be happy to hear, it does not say anything about Rosh Hashanah and I really wish it did. It was definitely missing the element of what Rosh Hashanah is and why Katy is celebrating it.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! In the spirit of the best children's literature, it's a deceptively simple story with a profound message. Katy, the lead character, learns so much about herself and others in this tale: that things don't go always the way we wish, but with an open and trusting heart, you can transcend disappointment to find a greater sense of community and self. It's a story about letting others in and finding ways to celebrate traditions even when change is afoot. Katy grows a lot in this story, and she learns she has much to teach and share with others! A great message for adults and kids alike.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for ECE level readers because it teaches about family traditions and how to be flexible in the face of disappointment. Everyone comes together in this book to make the Jewish New Year special, and even though it is different from how it normally is, it is still a happy time for all.

[Hannah Starnes]

You can teach kids about the Rosh Hashanah holiday. If students in your class celebrate it, you can have them (or their parents can come in) and they can talk about how they celebrate the holiday and why.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the holiday collection.