It's almost Rosh Hashanah-the Jewish New Year-and Mike and Maya are just trying to get through apple slicing, honey smears, and a very enthusiastic kazoo. But when a swirl of cinnamon-scented sparkles fills their living room, everything changes. In a flash of glitter (and raisins), they are whisked away to a magical city where shofars echo through the sky, round challahs glow in golden windows, and every corner hums with the promise of a new beginning.
Guided by the ever-dramatic and delightfully mysterious Rabbi Matzah, Mike and Maya journey through the City of Beginnings, discovering what Rosh Hashanah is really about. Along the way, they learn why the Jewish New Year begins in the month of Tishrei instead of January, how the Jewish calendar follows the moon, and why the sound of the shofar is meant to wake not just our ears-but our hearts.
They plant a tiny fig tree for the future and meet someone writing names into the Book of the Year. They toss crumbs into a river during Tashlich, letting go of the mistakes and regrets they don't want to carry forward. They discover that Rosh Hashanah isn't only about apples dipped in honey or round raisin challah fresh from the oven. It's about reflection. It's about growth. It's about choosing who you want to become.
As music rises and lanterns glow, the celebration builds into a joyful reminder that every year offers another chance to begin again-on purpose. When Mike and Maya finally return home, the room may be a little messy, but something inside them has shifted. The year is new. And so are they.
Warm, humorous, and richly illustrated, The Rosh Hashanah Book gently introduces children to the traditions, symbols, and deeper meaning of the Jewish New Year in a way that feels accessible and magical. Through storytelling, vibrant imagery, and thoughtful moments of reflection, young readers learn about the shofar, Tashlich, teshuvah, holiday foods, and the idea of renewal in a way that is both educational and emotionally resonant.
Perfect for families, classrooms, synagogues, and holiday gift-giving, this book blends meaningful tradition with imagination and heart. It invites children-and the grown-ups who read with them-to pause, reflect, and step into the new year with intention.
Part of the Rabbi Matzah series: Mike and Maya's Excellent Adventure, this beautifully crafted volume celebrates Jewish tradition while encouraging courage, kindness, and the joy of beginning again.
Suitable for ages 6-10.
Pell, Suzanne: - "Suzanne Pell builds children's books with intention, experience, and heart. With more than 40 years in print and graphic design - beginning with the opening of her first print shop in 1981 - she understands books from the inside out. As an author, illustrator, designer, and full-service publisher, she guides both her own projects and first-time authors from concept to completion, combining expressive storytelling with bold, page-popping design that helps books stand out in a crowded marketplace. The result is work that is not only beautiful, but strategically built, professionally produced, and made to last. You can reach her at sue@booksbysue.com."
