This feel-good picture book contains all the right elements (or should I say ingredients?) for the Rosh Hashanah holiday and an enjoyable read-aloud. Part of “The Festivals of the World” series, The Sweetest Rosh Hashanah focuses on the Jewish New Year and a little girl named Ellie. She loves helping her parents prepare for the New Year meal, especially the challah, the honey cake, and the apples and honey. But when she’s reminded that her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins will be joining them, she remembers how bossy her cousin Lara had been on her previous visit.
Ellie decides that, rather than having Lara take something of hers and leave with it like she did last time—Ellie’s special paint set, to be precise—she’d hide her special toys from Lara. What a surprise, then, when Lara shows up with a handmade card apologizing for taking the paint set and for her bossy behavior. Ellie takes her cue from the meaning of Rosh Hashanah and forgives her cousin. In the spirit of Rosh Hashanah and turning over a new leaf, the cousins move forward with love and open minds, “… the perfect start to a sweet new year.” Lewis’s warm palette captures the festive moments in a flat, folk art style that I love, as a diverse family gathers to celebrate the holiday. Bergman captures a common childhood emotion and creates a joyful picture book in which forgiveness offers a chance for new beginnings.
With four pages of backmatter in this 32-page picture book, the story unfolds quickly, with every spread moving it toward a heartwarming conclusion. Kids will find a step-by-step recipe for making challah as well as a New Year’s card craft activity.
Meet Stella, the narrator of Stella’s Special Recipe. Now that she’s old enough to help her mom make the stuffed cabbage rolls, a family recipe passed down for generations, Stella can’t wait to get started. She doesn’t have to go far to gather the ingredients, since she lives on a farm where they’re easy to pick. Stoller skillfully uses catchy language tools such as onomatopoeia, alliteration, consonance, assonance, and a repeatable refrain that grows longer as mouthwatering ingredients are added.
“We chop-drop tomatoes into a pot for sauce.
Sizzle, sizzle. Steam swirls.”
Pure yum! One tradition that’s also been passed down in different colored ink from Stella’s bubbe, nana, and mom is adding their own personal touch. “‘Could I add my own dash or dollop?'” I wonder.” This got me curious to see what new recipe variation would get selected. When Stella added honey, I knew she’d found the perfect addition that simply shouted her name to keep the sweet family tradition going.
I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that my nana’s stuffed cabbage ranked up there with the best I’ve ever eaten, but I unfortunately don’t have the recipe. I’m thankful this picture book includes a recipe for me to test out. Milovanova’s illustrations, full of Stella’s energy and enthusiasm, pair beautifully with Stoller’s inviting prose.
A loving, heartwarming picture book about empathy, sisterhood, and finding the courage to ask for forgiveness—and having the grace to give it—to others and to ourselves.
INTERVIEW:
Jan Epstein Schwaid: Hi, Rebecca! Longtime fan, first-time interviewer. I loved this book and its sweet, relatable message. What was your inspiration?
Rebecca Gardyn Levington:Thank you so much for your kind words, Jan. Very excited to talk to you!
This story actually started with a call for poems by Ladybug magazine in the summer of 2021. They were looking for poems about “traditions and rituals” and, since I love a good writing prompt, I started brainstorming about various Jewish traditions and rituals that I find meaningful. I’ve always loved the Tashlich ceremony, which takes place on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. It is a ritual that is all about finding forgiveness – by making amends with those we’ve harmed and by giving ourselves grace for our missteps. The original poem was 5 stanzas long and had a little sidebar about the ceremony. I actually remember being happy when Ladybug decided not to publish the poem because I was excited about the idea of playing with it more and maybe turning it into a picture book.
When I was invited to attend the inaugural PJ Library Summer Camp at Highlights for emerging authors in 2022 (where I met YOU!), I knew it was the perfect time to work on this. The feedback I received during that summer helped enormously with the revisions of this book.
JES: How and why did you decide to add the backdrop of Rosh Hashanah to this story of sisterly forgiveness? Did you consider telling it without the Jewish holiday element?
RGL: No, I never considered telling this story without the Jewish holiday element. As I mentioned, the story started with a poem about Tashlich, and grew from there into a more universal story.
JES: Taschlich was a ceremony I only really learned about in college, where we’d throw bread into the campus fountain. Now, we throw rice paper into a pool! Did you grow up with the tradition of Taschlich? Do you practice it now? If so, how?
RGL: It’s funny, I also never knew about Tashlich as a kid growing up in a Reform temple in the Bay Area of California. I’m not really sure why. My best guess is that after trying to keep two little girls quiet in temple all morning, my parents didn’t have the energy to take us to yet another service, at another location, but I should ask them!
I only learned about Tashlich as an adult because the temple I now belong to (here, in NJ) conducts the Tashlich service immediately after (and in the same location as) their “family service.” We’ve attended every year since my two boys were little. It has always been my and my family’s favorite parts of Rosh Hashanah because it is a short yet very meaningful service, it’s outdoors in a beautiful park setting, and it involves throwing bread into water (and what kid doesn’t like throwing things?)
JES: Your rhyming books flow so incredibly well and feel effortless. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing in rhyme? Do you have resources you’d recommend?
RGL: Thank you for that compliment! Honestly, the best advice I would give to anyone who wants to write in rhyme is to put in the time to learn the craft.
Some people think “cat” rhymes with “hat,” so what’s so hard about “that”? But in order to write a story in rhyme that FEELS easy and can be read flawlessly by ANYONE, it requires an understanding the mechanics of meter — how words have natural stressed and unstressed syllables and that by placing words in a particular order, you can create specific rhythms. Writing picture books (as opposed to poems) increases the difficulty because the story ALWAYS has to come first. You can have the most wonderful rhymes and perfect rhythms, but if the story doesn’t make sense or goes off on unnecessary tangents, it isn’t going to fly.
I’ve worked really, really, really hard over the last decade – taking classes, reading and studying thousands of rhyming picture books and poems, swapping manuscripts with other incredible rhyming authors, getting professional critiques, etc. — to truly master the ins and outs of rhyme, meter, and lyrical language. For those who want to put in the work, I will say that the absolute BEST thing I ever did for my career was to take Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab class. Renee also has a fabulous FREE YouTube channel. (And no, I don’t get any kickbacks from Renee. I’m happy to spread the word because I absolutely believe her class helped me take my writing to an entirely different level).
I would also say that if you don’t absolutely LOVE writing in rhyme, don’t. To me, a rhyming poem or picture book is one big puzzle. When, after hours of tinkering, I’m able to uncover the perfect word that exactly encapsulates the meaning and feeling I’m after AND perfectly slides into my meter, I get SUCH a high! But if you don’t feel this way, don’t make your life harder. It is more difficult to get an agent and more difficult to sell a rhyming picture book (for many reasons I don’t have time to go into here). So why put yourself at a disadvantage if it isn’t something you love?
JES:Do you ever write non-rhyming versions of your stories? Do editors ever ask for non-rhyming versions?
RGL: Because, as I said, story ALWAYS needs to come first, I know some people suggest writing out manuscripts in prose before “translating” it into rhyme, but that’s never really worked for me. These days I tend to write all my stories in rhyme from the beginning. Oftentimes that means I end up killing a lot of darlings along the way, as I realize that a certain stanza isn’t moving the story forward. It’s a bit torturous, but it’s just how I work.
That said, I definitely have written stories in prose that I intend to remain in prose. But doing so feels less comfortable than writing in rhyme, and none of those stories have ever sold. There’s something about the constraints of meter and rhyme that helps me focus. Having unlimited space and unlimited words to tell a story feels very overwhelming to me.
Actually, several people who critiqued early drafts of FINDING FORGIVENESS told me to take it out of rhyme. They felt like maybe the subject matter was a little too heavy for a rhyming story. So, I tried to change it into prose, but it never felt like “me.” So, I returned to the rhyme. It was definitely a challenge to get it right (I count 31 drafts) but I’m glad I stuck with it.
And no, I’ve never had an editor ask me for a non-rhyming version of a story they’ve acquired. All the editors I’ve had the pleasure of working with have been super enthusiastic about my work (which is why I love working with them!). That said, I have had editors pass on submissions because they didn’t “connect with the rhyme.” That kind of feedback stings a bit, but I’ve grown a pretty tough skin.
JES: You’ve written books about Passover, Hanukkah, and now, Rosh Hashanah! Are there other holidays you’d like to explore?
RGL: Indeed, there are! In fact, I have a book about Shabbat, LOOKING FOR LIGHT, which is also illustrated by Diana Mayo (the same illustrator as FINDING FORGIVENESS) and comes out in early 2027, again with Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. And I have a book about Purim, BRAVE LIKE ESTHER: A Purim Story, illustrated by Asya Aizenstein, which comes out from Kalaniot Books in January 2027!
JES: Your moving books all evoke strong emotions. With what feelings do you hope young readers come away from this book?
RGL:Thank you again for the compliment. I really hope that readers will come away from this book with feelings of empathy and understanding for both characters in the story.
Like the main character in this book, I too have a younger sister and our relationship as children was filled with arguments like the one depicted. I also now have two boys of my own and see similar frustrations and miscommunications creep up between them as well. Sibling relationships are tough for anyone to navigate, and it is particularly hard for kids, who are still learning that the world doesn’t always revolve around their own experience and point of view. One of the reasons I often write in the first person is because I want my readers to walk in my character’s shoes and try on all the feelings they are feeling, and find understanding for others when they encounter similar situations in their own lives.
JES: Do you have any advice for new picture book writers?
RGL:Oh, I have a TON of advice! (Allow me to shamelessly plug my monthly newsletter, where I answer questions from subscribers and offer LOTS of advice every single month! You can sign up on my website and read all past archives on my “Resources for Writers” page here: https://rebeccagardynlevington.com/resources-for-writers/)
For now, I’ll offer these three nuggets:
Write the books YOU love to write. I love writing rhyming (often plotless) poem-picture books. But initially when I was starting out, I didn’t write these types of books because I thought I had to follow the “rules” — ex: “have a main character with a problem who tries 3 times to solve it,” “don’t write in rhyme,” etc. Not surprisingly, none of those drafts ever sold. It wasn’t until I listened to my heart (cute the 80s tune!) that my writing finally started feeling authentic and I began selling books.
Publishing is a BUSINESS. As I say in #1, first and foremost, write what you love! BUT, at the end of the day, you also need to think about how you will SELL that book to a publisher. So, what are your “hooks”? (Can it be sold during a particular holiday? Is it about a certain type of relationship? Is it SEL? STEM? Can you add sidebars or back matter?) Who will buy your book and WHY? (Can teacher’s use it in their classroom, for example.) After writing a first draft, I recommend writing your pitch and researching comp titles (other books with similar themes or styles). It will help you revise when you have a solid idea of what holes you feel your book fills in the marketplace.
Put yourself and your work out into the world as much as you can! You NEVER know where opportunity will arise. Enter ALL the contests, join ALL the groups, go to ALL the conferences and webinars you can, and enter ALL the mentorship programs. If I hadn’t applied for the (now defunct) #PB Chat Mentorship Program in 2019, I wouldn’t have connected with my mentor, author Lori Degman, and she wouldn’t have connected me with my editor at Sleeping Bear Press who ultimately bought and published my first book, BRAINSTORM!
JES: What’s coming up next for you?
RGL:Thank you so much for asking!
My next two books, both out on Sept. 9th, are SOME DAYS I’M THE WIND (Barefoot Books), illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova, and DINOSAUR SURPRISE! (Highlights Press), illustrated by Teresa Bellon. Here are the blurbs:
SOME DAYS I’M THE WIND is a lyrical picture book that encourages kids to be true to who they are, even when “who they are” is constantly changing. Like the wind, which on some days is “whirling and wild” and on others “mellow and mild,” we cannot be described, defined, or labelled in any one way. Each day, our moods, feelings and reactions to the world inevitably shift and drift depending on our circumstance, but we are always, on all days, uniquely ourselves.
DINOSAUR SURPRISE! is an interactive board book about… dinosaurs, of course! Babies and toddlers will delight in joining real dinosaurs in a rhyming story, and then—surprise!—lift the felt flaps to reveal silly ones. The last page features a mirror under the flap where little “babysaurs” can practice their silliest faces. This is the perfect book to help little ones develop early humor and fine-motor skills while they laugh and play with caregivers.
Rebecca Gardyn Levington is a children’s book author, poet, and journalist with a particular penchant for penning both playful and poignant picture books and poems – primarily in rhyme. She is the author of WHATEVER COMES TOMORROW (which has been translated into nine languages and is the winner of a Crystal Kite Honor and a Northern Lights Book Award),AFIKOMAN WHERE’D YOU GO? and FINDING FORGIVENESS (both PJ Library Selections), BRAINSTORM!, LITTLE DREIDEL LEARNS TO SPIN, WRITE HERE WRITE NOW, SOME DAYS I’M THE WIND, DINOSAUR SURPRISE!, and I WILL ALWAYS BE… with many more books forthcoming. Rebecca blogs monthly for the Picture Book Builders and her award-winning poems and articles have appeared in numerous anthologies, newspapers, and magazines. She lives with her family in Summit, NJ, where she enjoys bouncing on a mini-trampoline, playing Mah Jongg, and eating chocolate-peanut butter ice cream (although not usually at the same time!). Find out more and sign up for Rebecca’s monthly newsletter at www.RebeccaGardynLevington.com.
Jan Epstein Schwaid Photo Credit: Just Maggie Photography.
JAN’S BIO:
A graduate of the University of Southern California’s screenwriting program, Jan Schwaid is an award-winning writer of short films, television, video games, podcasts, and children’s books. She currently writes for PJ Library’s scripted children’s podcast Beyond the Bookcase, now in its fifth season. Her debut picture book, The Shabbat Flood: A Texas-Sized Tall Tale, will be published in Fall 2026. She also teaches screenwriting at the Los Angeles branch of the New York Film Academy. Jan lives in Los Angeles with her husband, young daughter, a rescue pup Taco. Visit her online at janschwaid.com or on Instagram at @jan_schwaid_writing.
Reading Two New Yearswritten by Richard Ho and illustrated by Lynn Scurfield, reminds me of how wonderful it is to find similarities in cultures while also celebrating the differences. Ho draws from his personal life to imbue this heartwarming Rosh Hashanah and Lunar New Year story with meaning while also making it accessible to anyone, whether or not they are Jewish or Chinese like the family we meet here.
The book begins simply and yet pulls readers in to find out more. “My family celebrates two New Years: Rosh Hashanah in the fall and Lunar New Year in the spring. We’re shown through art and prose how this works so beautifully in a multicultural family. Though Ho converted to Judaism, he still remains committed to his Chinese roots and traditions which readers are introduced to over the course of the 22-page story. Since I’m familiar with Rosh Hashanah, but less so with the Lunar New Year, I was curious to get the details. This is accomplished by dividing the book into two parts, the first being the lyrical, emotional heart of the story and the second being the factual part.
Kids should find it interesting that both Rosh Hashanah and the Lunar New Year, as well as other holidays, are lunar-based in the Jewish and the Chinese calendars respectively. However, it’s the Gregorian calendar we use in our daily lives and the one most children know best. That’s why Rosh Hashanah and the Lunar New Year fall on different dates every year.
The holiday customs Ho writes about demonstrate how much they have in common. One similarity both New Years share is putting the past behind to welcome in the new. In Chinese culture “we sweep past troubles out the door.” In Jewish culture, we “cast old mistakes into the depths.” You can see those actions thoughtfully illustrated in a rich fall palette in the artwork below. When our children were younger, we often went with our Jewish community on what’s called a tashlich walk to a nearby park to throw pieces of bread into a stream, representing mistakes we can toss away to start anew.
Both new years are about spending time with family and remembering those no longer with us. Scrumptious food is served. “We prepare foods that symbolize togetherness and the heartfelt sharing of good wishes.” So much about a new year is about moving forward and the hope for a better tomorrow, one filled with “long life and prosperity, good deeds and a sweet year ahead.” Scurfield’s thrilling illustrations depict the blast of a shofar (a ram’s horn) in the synagogue while opposite “the clatter of fireworks,” makes a loud noise as a dragon dances by during a parade. Respect and love fill the pages of Two New Years and will hopefully fill readers’ hearts too.
Twelve pages of interesting backmatter comprise the second part of the picture book including a lovely two-page Author’s Note. Children will benefit from the Visual Glossary included. It goes into more depth about aspects of both Rosh Hashanah and the Lunar New Year briefly touched upon in the story. As I mentioned earlier, I know less about the Lunar New Year despite having read many picture books over the years. While I knew about lucky money and the importance of the color red on the holiday, I had never heard about the tray of togetherness, a tray “filled with candies, dried fruits, and nuts and served to visitors at Chinese homes, and how the tray is divided “into either six or eight sections” because the words for six and eight respectively sound like the words for luck and prosperity. Likewise, young readers may enjoy learning that for Rosh Hashanah the seeds of a pomegranate symbolize the “many merits or good deeds” of a person.
I am so happy this worthwhile book is out there and hope it lands on many bookshelves in homes, schools, and libraries to be enjoyed year after year.
When autumn arrives, it’s time to get ready for Rosh Hashanah, one of the Jewish high holy days. In Tzimmes for Tzipporah, written by Megan Hoytand illustrated by Christine Battuz, readers meet Tzipporah who lives on a farm and is thrilled to be finally old enough to pitch in with the preparations. Rosh Hashanah has always been one of my favorite holidays so I couldn’t wait to read this new story.
“The earth is almost ready to share a special secret.” Lovely lyrical, anticipatory language packs the pages of this celebratory picture book that is sure to make your mouth water. The story begins just three days before the Rosh Hashanah holiday (noted in red typeface) and Tzipporah is eager to join Papa on the tractor as it turns over the lumpy soil. Rutabagas, yams, turnips, potatoes, and carrots have been harvested. Now, with just two days until Rosh Hashanah, it’s time to dust off the dirt and put the vegetables in burlap bags. Friends help make the work fun and the time fly!
Kids will learn about farming life as they vicariously experience what’s involved through Tzipporah. It may not always be easy, and growing your own food is something so many children know little about, so I’m happy this book portrays the process, not just the end result. Tzipporah and her pals clean off the root vegetables with wire brushes. More hard work. This line, from later that evening when things are winding down, says it all. “Aching arms. Sore feet. Happy hearts.”
The next day, the last one before Rosh Hashanah means Tzipporah can cook at last. Along with brisket and honey cake, sweet tzimmes is on the menu and that’s what Tzipporah will help make. Using a tried and true recipe, this delicious dish is made from what the family has grown. Readers will see how Tzipporah spends a lot of time peeling with her father. He cheerfully assures her it will taste delicious despite her doubt.
After a visit to the synagogue for the Rosh Hashanah service and the traditional shofar blowing to ring in the new year, the family heads home to welcome friends and neighbors. Battuz’s bright and upbeat illustration above showing Tzipporah and her cute dog watching the tzimmes warm up in the oven is one of my favorite spreads. I can relate to it and likely many young readers can too! Tasing something you’ve helped make is quite exciting for a child. I only noticed the kitty in the basket by the plants after the second reading so see if your children spot it.
Capping off this fresh perspective on the holiday is a tzimmes recipe I intend to cook. There’s also an author’s note explaining the meaning of Rosh Hashanah and why Tzipporah’s experience is so meaningful for children to read about. I recommend adding this enjoyable picture book to your holiday collection. Why not have your child bring it to school so classmates can learn about the importance of Rosh Hashanah?
THE SWEETEST ROSH HASHANAH
STELLA’S SPECIAL RECIPE: A Rosh Hashanah Story
