Reviews

New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story by April Halprin Wayland, Stéphane Jorisch

danicamidlil's review

4.0

The importance of apologies. A little on the preachy side.

elenamcnamee's review

hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

muddypuddle's review

4.0

Tashlich is a ritual that is part of the High Holy days of Judaism, the Jewish New Year: Rosh Hashanah. This story explains what it's all about ("casting away" things you're sorry for) and how it's celebrated. I've been part of a number of Tashlich celebration. When I taught at Tucson Hebrew Academy, we'd take the whole school to a local park that had a huge pond of water and we'd sing, chant in Hebrew (pray), and cast away our sins as we threw crackers into the water. During this whole month prior to the High Holidays, the shofar would be blown every morning as we all gathered in the terrace between classrooms. A shofar is an ancient instrument made from a ram's horn, and every shofar has its own sound. A few of the students had their own, or brought in a parent's shofar and joined the rabbis in blowing. I loved these days at THA!

This story brought back so many wonderful memories! I like the way that the family really put some thought into what deeds they felt needed forgiving. This is a wonderful story to explain Tashlich to Jews and non-Jews alike.

yapha's review

4.0

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.

calistareads's review

4.0

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.

libscote's review

3.0

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.

beecheralyson's review

4.0

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.