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New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story
Izzy’s favorite part of Rosh Hashanah is Tashlich, a joyous ceremony in which people apologize for the mistakes they made in the previous year and thus clean the slate as the new year begins. But there is one mistake on Izzy’s “I’m sorry” list that he’s finding especially hard to say out loud. Humor, touching moments between family and friends, and lots of information about the Jewish New Year are all combined in this lovely picture book for holiday sharing.
Paperback
First published June 11, 2009
About the author
April Halprin Wayland
14 books10 followersApril Halprin Wayland's newest picture book, MORE THAN ENOUGH--A Passover Story, illustrated by Katie Kath, is about being grateful for each moment. Each moment is more than enough.
Her picture book, NEW YEAR AT THE PIER--A Rosh Hashanah Story, won the Sydney Taylor Gold Award for Younger Readers and received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. It is an affectionate, celebratory story of forgiveness and what a boy learns at the pier on the Jewish New Year.
Her novel in poems, GIRL COMING IN FOR A LANDING, won the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor Award for Childrens Poetry, was a Junior Library Guild selection, was nominated as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and was nominated for ALAs Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers.
The operative word of her website is whimsy--it's full of writing exercises and resources, as well as information on Tashlich and on forgiveness
http://www.aprilwayland.com
April also posts about poetry on the blog TeachingAuthors with five other children's authors who teach
http://www.teachingauthors.com
Her poems are widely published in CRICKET Magazine and anthologies and have won the SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for Poetry multiple times (garnering honors four times and winning it twice).
Other works include her NAPPA gold award-winning CD of stories, and numerous picture books (Scholastic and Knopf).
She gives workshops across the US and throughout Europe, and has been on the faculty of the UCLA Extension Writer's Program teaching Writing the Picture Book for Children since 1999.
Her picture book, NEW YEAR AT THE PIER--A Rosh Hashanah Story, won the Sydney Taylor Gold Award for Younger Readers and received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. It is an affectionate, celebratory story of forgiveness and what a boy learns at the pier on the Jewish New Year.
Her novel in poems, GIRL COMING IN FOR A LANDING, won the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor Award for Childrens Poetry, was a Junior Library Guild selection, was nominated as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and was nominated for ALAs Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers.
The operative word of her website is whimsy--it's full of writing exercises and resources, as well as information on Tashlich and on forgiveness
http://www.aprilwayland.com
April also posts about poetry on the blog TeachingAuthors with five other children's authors who teach
http://www.teachingauthors.com
Her poems are widely published in CRICKET Magazine and anthologies and have won the SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for Poetry multiple times (garnering honors four times and winning it twice).
Other works include her NAPPA gold award-winning CD of stories, and numerous picture books (Scholastic and Knopf).
She gives workshops across the US and throughout Europe, and has been on the faculty of the UCLA Extension Writer's Program teaching Writing the Picture Book for Children since 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 26, 2018
I'm a week late with this Holiday. Honestly, I knew very little about it. This book explores the idea of Tashlich, a Jewish tradition of tossing away those things we are sorry for. As the rabbi says, "Tashlich is like clearning your heart's closet. A new year, a clean heart." This sounds like a fabulous practice. They go to the ocean in this one because they live on the ocean and their breadcrumbs represent all the things they are sorry for throughout their past year. (The New Year starts at Rosh Hashanah.)
This seems like such a healthy holiday. The birds love it and I can imagine it feels good. I'm enriched by knowing this tradition. They even blow the shofar, some sort of instrument. It's always nice to have rituals to let go of guilt and a time to say I'm sorry. To focus on things we would like to change that we did. I like this practice.
I did not care for the art at all. It distracted me from the story, personally. It looks like watercolors. The kids liked this story. It sounded like fun to throw bread to the birds and clean their heart closet. They gave it 3 stars.
This seems like such a healthy holiday. The birds love it and I can imagine it feels good. I'm enriched by knowing this tradition. They even blow the shofar, some sort of instrument. It's always nice to have rituals to let go of guilt and a time to say I'm sorry. To focus on things we would like to change that we did. I like this practice.
I did not care for the art at all. It distracted me from the story, personally. It looks like watercolors. The kids liked this story. It sounded like fun to throw bread to the birds and clean their heart closet. They gave it 3 stars.
January 27, 2010
This is a terrific book about the Jewish New Year’s tradition of Tachlich, which involves making amends for things one regrets in the past year and therefore being able to start off the new year with a clean slate, or as it says in this book, with “clean, wide-open hearts.”
I loved the illustrations; the ones at the ocean made me feel as though I was there. I enjoyed the art, which was made with pen and ink, watercolor and gousche. I usually enjoy art done in watercolor.
I love the tradition of throwing pieces of bread in the water (one for every mistake made) and how the birds and sea life can eat the bread. I appreciated that the story shows just how difficult and satisfying apologizing to others can be, and how forgiveness for others’ wrongdoings is a big part of the process. I thought it was so funny, and accurate, how someone apologizing for something that seemed big to them sometimes seems like a tiny little things to the person offended against.
I loved how this story features a young boy and his family and friend, and other families, along with their rabbi. It’s very family oriented and children oriented, and shows how children can fully honor this tradition.
Even though this is about a Jewish New Year’s tradition, it should be able to be enjoyed by anyone at any time of year, and it would be fun for non-Jewish readers to start a similar tradition of their own, and, at the very least, this book will make for good discussions among children and children and their adults.
I loved the illustrations; the ones at the ocean made me feel as though I was there. I enjoyed the art, which was made with pen and ink, watercolor and gousche. I usually enjoy art done in watercolor.
I love the tradition of throwing pieces of bread in the water (one for every mistake made) and how the birds and sea life can eat the bread. I appreciated that the story shows just how difficult and satisfying apologizing to others can be, and how forgiveness for others’ wrongdoings is a big part of the process. I thought it was so funny, and accurate, how someone apologizing for something that seemed big to them sometimes seems like a tiny little things to the person offended against.
I loved how this story features a young boy and his family and friend, and other families, along with their rabbi. It’s very family oriented and children oriented, and shows how children can fully honor this tradition.
Even though this is about a Jewish New Year’s tradition, it should be able to be enjoyed by anyone at any time of year, and it would be fun for non-Jewish readers to start a similar tradition of their own, and, at the very least, this book will make for good discussions among children and children and their adults.
March 28, 2020
Autumn is Izzy's favorite time of year. A time of changes, of apples and honey, and the sound of the Shofar. As Rosh Hashanah draws near, Izzy joins his family in making "I'm sorry" lists, preparing for Taschlich, in which the previous year's transgressions are symbolically cast away. But this year, he has a very difficult apology to make...
April Halprin Wayland's New Year at the Pier, which emphasizes the importance of both repentance and forgiveness in the Jewish New Year tradition, is an engaging and believable tale of family, friendship, and community. Izzy makes for an appealing young hero, as fallible as any other young boy, but also sincerely interested in doing right. Stéphane Jorisch's sprightly illustrations add to the sense of fun and celebration. All in all, a very pleasing holiday tale that should appeal to young readers of all religious persuasions.
April Halprin Wayland's New Year at the Pier, which emphasizes the importance of both repentance and forgiveness in the Jewish New Year tradition, is an engaging and believable tale of family, friendship, and community. Izzy makes for an appealing young hero, as fallible as any other young boy, but also sincerely interested in doing right. Stéphane Jorisch's sprightly illustrations add to the sense of fun and celebration. All in all, a very pleasing holiday tale that should appeal to young readers of all religious persuasions.
December 22, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
A lovely book, an education for our group, as none of us are Jewish - so we were all learning. The traditions, the purpose and meaning of the holy day (holiday) to find three things you regret having done, that you are sorry for and wish hadn't happened - to do that on a regular basis, every year - that's a wonderful thing. It's an exercise in accountability, personal and wholly embraced - with personal sorrow and apology given. . . .brave and vulnerable.
We all enjoyed the story, written at kid-level, and appreciated at kid-level, too. Throwing the bread off the pier, in a community was a lovely way to start anew. We enjoyed this book!
A lovely book, an education for our group, as none of us are Jewish - so we were all learning. The traditions, the purpose and meaning of the holy day (holiday) to find three things you regret having done, that you are sorry for and wish hadn't happened - to do that on a regular basis, every year - that's a wonderful thing. It's an exercise in accountability, personal and wholly embraced - with personal sorrow and apology given. . . .brave and vulnerable.
We all enjoyed the story, written at kid-level, and appreciated at kid-level, too. Throwing the bread off the pier, in a community was a lovely way to start anew. We enjoyed this book!
June 25, 2012
"New Year at the Pier" is a fabulous story for young readers. It explains Tashlich, an aspect of the Jewish New Year Rosh Hoshanah, where people admit their mistakes to those they've wronged and toss bread crumbs into water, symbolizing starting a new year. Young boys and girls will relate to Izzy, who can't write yet, but draws pictures of the things for which he needs to apologize. They will understand how some of his mistakes are easier to say "Sorry" for than others. The colorful watercolor illustrations bring to life the fall season and Izzy's tale. It received the Sydney Taylor Book Award for 2010.
July 15, 2009
Does a wonderful job of explaining the purpose behind Rosh Hashanah and the power of asking for and receiving forgiveness.
January 19, 2010
What a sweet story of Rosh Hashanah. I liked the way the author helped explain the whole concept of Tashlich and "I'm sorry". Done in a way small children can understand.
December 5, 2017
Moving picture book about the Jewish tradition of Tashlich during Rosh Hashanah. Great pick for both children and adults of all faith traditions.
January 26, 2010
This is a story about a Jewish New Year’s tradition that can be enjoyed by all people no matter what their faith, and at any time of the year. At the beginning of the year it is custom for Jewish people to reflect on the mistakes they made that year, writing a list numbering these mistakes, then cast these mistakes in the form of bread into a lake, river, or ocean. I love this since we cannot undo the mistakes we have made, but we can reflect on them, apologize, forgive ourselves and let those upset feelings go, then try to do better. Instead of writing resolutions at the beginning of the year I think I will do something similar to this Jewish tradition.
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June 23, 2012This book was a 2010 Sydney Taylor book award winner. It’s a great picture book for both boys and girls’ age’s five to eight. The pictures in the book are very appealing and it has a good lesson to be learned about forgiveness. The young boy in the story is celebrating Rosh Hashanah and he is coming up with things he’s sorry for that he did in the last year. It emphasizes that forgiveness is important.
June 28, 2012
New Year at the Pier was winner of th 2010 Syndney Taylor Book Award. This would be a good read for Kindergarten to third grade or any student looking for a book to read about different holiday traditions. New Year at the Pier told a story of a tradition during Rosh Hashanah called Tashlich.
It's a great book to use to teach forgiveness and teach students of different traditions.
It's a great book to use to teach forgiveness and teach students of different traditions.
September 11, 2012
A very sweet book for young children about the power of forgiveness -- both for those who are asking to be forgiven and those doing the forgiving. Centered around the Jewish custom of Tashlich, where one tosses bread crumbs symbolizing sins into a body of water, it is a great message for all whether you celebrate Rosh Hashanah or not. Recommend for grades K-3.
July 25, 2009
This book does a good job of bringing the idea of forgiveness which is what Rosh Hashanah is about to the understanding of young children. The storyline is a read that will be enjoyed by young readers, also.
October 29, 2017
A great explanation of the tradition of Tashlich during Rosh Hashanah - the symbolic casting away of the things we've done during the year we regret, and a symbol of starting over.
This story really makes it understandable for kids!
This story really makes it understandable for kids!
July 21, 2009
Marvelous illustrations. Wayland introduces Rosh Hashanah without getting bogged down in history or tradition. The family here is universal. Izzy is the brother that every sister loves and hates.
February 20, 2017
A boy's perspective of Tashlich, a ritual of admitting mistakes.
My favorite part was the mother apologizing to her child for being on the phone so much
My favorite part was the mother apologizing to her child for being on the phone so much
July 21, 2009
Crisp salt air and sunshine breeze from airy, upbeat illustrations in this chattily shared and poignant reminder of the power of forgiveness.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
Rosh Hashanah is September 19-20, 2009. Will you be tossing an "I'm Sorry" list?
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and more....
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
Rosh Hashanah is September 19-20, 2009. Will you be tossing an "I'm Sorry" list?
More forgiveness on JOMB:
Enemy Pie
The Worst Best Friend
Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big
Too Many Tamales
Not so Rotten Ralph
The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza
Elinor and Violet: The Story of Two Naughty Chickens
Pumpkin Soup
Chloë’s Birthday. . . and Me
Do Unto Otters
The Unknown Soldier
The Diary of Laura’s Twin (A Holocaust Remembrance Book for Young Readers)
Bird
Sourpuss And Sweetie Pie
Sleeping Dragons All Around
Smoky Mountain Rose (An Appalachian Cinderella)
Silly Tilly
and more....
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show
October 31, 2012
This book tells a story about the holiday Rosh Hashanah from the point of view of a little boy named Izzy. His favorite part of Rosh Hashanah is throwing away your past mistakes and starting over new, which is called Tashlich. Izzy realizes he has made some mistakes and must appologize to the people he hurt, even if it is hard to do. He has to appologize to a few people, the last one being his best friend, Ben, for telling his secret when he said he wouldn't. Izzy was very nervous about it, but in the end, Ben forgave him. Illustrations in this book were realistic and detailed, giving much life to the story. It taught information about the holiday through a story but also gave lessons about doing what is right and forgiving others. In the classroom, I think this book could be used to teach students how to treat their classmates, especially when there are students not getting along. Also I think students could share mistakes they have made to show that everyone makes mistakes and to show the importance of forgiveness.
July 31, 2010
SYDNEY TAYLOR AWARD WINNER (2010)
Format: Picture book
Age level: Elementary
Protagonist: Izzy
Brief Summary: This was an excellent book exploring the Jewish New Year. The story focuses on the tradition of tashlich, where people admit their mistakes in the past year and throw stale bread into the water. Told through the eyes of a young boy, the reader really gets a feel as to what tashlich means to a younger child. I think this book would really help children understand an important part of Rosh Hashanah.
The pictures are colorful and fun. The children and adults come in all shapes and sizes, helping to show the diversity of the religion.
There is also an additional underlying theme of friendship, which would allow this book to be used beyond the study of holidays.
Format: Picture book
Age level: Elementary
Protagonist: Izzy
Brief Summary: This was an excellent book exploring the Jewish New Year. The story focuses on the tradition of tashlich, where people admit their mistakes in the past year and throw stale bread into the water. Told through the eyes of a young boy, the reader really gets a feel as to what tashlich means to a younger child. I think this book would really help children understand an important part of Rosh Hashanah.
The pictures are colorful and fun. The children and adults come in all shapes and sizes, helping to show the diversity of the religion.
There is also an additional underlying theme of friendship, which would allow this book to be used beyond the study of holidays.
September 15, 2015
While the pictures aren't my favorites, the story itself makes up for it. Rather than a boring explanation of what Tashlich is, the book instead gives you a character to focus on as he practices this one specific custom. I especially liked how the author grounded the story in mundane life; Ben is able to apologize to his mother, sister, and (with a lot of squirming) his best friend. He misses an opportunity for the fourth person on his list and promises to do so later. Crucially, the author does not show us this "later"; the moment captured in the book is only that one leading immediately up to Tashlich. Keeping it "real" (and simplistic) holds the younger reader's attention...and his/her comprehension.
October 31, 2012
New Year at the Pier is about a young Jewish boy, Izzy, and his favorite part of Rosh Hashanah, Tashlich. This is the time during the Jewish new year that Jewish people apologize for all the things they regret doing in the last year and open their hearts for the year to come. Izzy finds that apologizing is difficult, but rewarding. After he apologizes he throws his regrets off the pier. I would use this book to promote apologizing in my classroom and encourage community. Students could make their own "I'm sorry" lists and apologize for things they wish they had not done. The illustrations are very detailed and bring the story to life.
July 10, 2013
Audience: Primary
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Text-to-self: I am not Jewish, however I could relate to the book in that when it is Tashlich, and Izzy apologizes for the things he wished he hadn't done, I too do on a regular basis ask for forgiveness at church or from the people I have done things I wished I hadn't done. At the end of the story, after he has apologized for his wrong doings, he says that his "heart feels cleaner", which I agree is such a great sigh of relief to be forgiven of the things I am not proud of.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Text-to-self: I am not Jewish, however I could relate to the book in that when it is Tashlich, and Izzy apologizes for the things he wished he hadn't done, I too do on a regular basis ask for forgiveness at church or from the people I have done things I wished I hadn't done. At the end of the story, after he has apologized for his wrong doings, he says that his "heart feels cleaner", which I agree is such a great sigh of relief to be forgiven of the things I am not proud of.
October 3, 2009
My kids and I read this last night and really enjoyed it! My 5 year old was really in tune with what was happening throughout the story. It's difficult to teach the I'm sorry, thank you, sharing, and the list goes on. It's nice to be able to read a story to them of this manner that will captivate them and keep their attention.
Thank you April! This will be a regular bed time story to add to our collection! My kids thought it was so cool that you signed the book to them! :)
Thank you April! This will be a regular bed time story to add to our collection! My kids thought it was so cool that you signed the book to them! :)
June 28, 2012
Audience-K-3rd, Jewish students-boys and girls, fictional story to introduce/talk about a tradition during Rosh Hashanah
Appeal-This book is written so that younger students can understand and read independently. It would be great to use when teaching about Rosh Hashanah, but would also be great to show students the power of saying "I'm sorry" and forgiving others when they say "I'm sorry."
2010 Sydney Taylor Book Award List
Appeal-This book is written so that younger students can understand and read independently. It would be great to use when teaching about Rosh Hashanah, but would also be great to show students the power of saying "I'm sorry" and forgiving others when they say "I'm sorry."
2010 Sydney Taylor Book Award List
November 10, 2015
When reading to and educating a child who speaks both English and Hebrew, it is important to foster both the child's home language and culture. The story, "New Year at the Pier" explains why people who are Jewish celebrate the holiday of Rosh Hashanah and the importance of saying, "sorry" to the people you might have hurt in the past year.
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August 28, 2009Win an autographed copy of New Year at the Pier! Just post one reading, writing or teaching goal for the new school year (new year at the pier...new school year...get the connection?)in 25 words or less between 8-28-09 and 9-7-09 at www.teachingauthors.com
April 10, 2011
A family writes down all the negatives they have done for that year. After apologizing, the family does a ritual called Tashlieh to clean their hearts. They do this by throwing pieces of bread into the water. Great book for students in grades Kindergarten to 3rd grade.
April 11, 2011
This book would be a great way to explore other beliefs during the holidays. I recommend this book for 2nd-5th grades. Students may be prompted to write their own stories about what holidays they enjoy celebrating.
June 7, 2011
Sydney Taylor Award Winner 2010
I really enjoyed reading this book. I feel like I have a better idea of what Rosh Hashanah means. I think this book could also be used for discussion about apologizing or forgiveness.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I feel like I have a better idea of what Rosh Hashanah means. I think this book could also be used for discussion about apologizing or forgiveness.
September 28, 2011
I liked this book a lot. In addition to introducing the concepts behind the observance of Rosh Hashanah, it tells a good story about the boy Izzi and demonstrates effective use of ellipses a couple of times during the telling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews