FINDING FORGIVENESS

A child struggles to resolve a family disagreement during the Jewish new year.

“My sister sulks beside me. Last night we had a fight. I’m not sure…how to make things right,” the young, light-skinned narrator notes as the synagogue community gathers for prayers during Rosh Hashanah. The protagonist reckons with conflicted feelings as the congregation casts bread onto the water as part of the Jewish ceremony of Tashlich. The child murmurs apologies and slowly releases the painful memories along with the breadcrumbs. The argument is resolved, forgiveness is found, and the siblings promise to do better next year. Gardyn Levington’s rhyming couplets skillfully capture the narrator’s emotional journey, while Mayo’s deftly illustrated, light-filled spreads and pastel colors convey the joy of the holiday. The artist offers a refreshingly diverse depiction of the Jewish experience; the congregation includes people of color, as well as a female-presenting rabbi wearing a prayer shawl and kippah. Though the characters have come together to observe Rosh Hashanah, readers may want to share this book on Yom Kippur as well, due to the focus on atonement during the Days of Awe. The story makes an excellent addition to the very small handful of children’s books on Tashlich and the themes of Yom Kippur. A glossary and a guide to making meaningful apologies are included.

Conveys a universal lesson on compassion tenderly and with depth.