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Jacqueline Jules
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The Hardest Word: A Yom Kippur Story Kindle Edition

by Jacqueline Jules (Author), Katherine Janus Kahn (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 75 ratings
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Loosely based on the Hasidic legend "The Tear of Repentance", The Hardest Word is a story about forgiveness.


The Ziz, a wonderful bird who lived long ago, is so big and clumsy that he can't keep from bumping into things. When a tree he knocks over destroys the children's garden, he seeks God's help to fix things. "Bring me the hardest word," God instructs him, and the Ziz flies off to search. He brings back words like rhinocerous, rock, and Rumplestiltskin, but none is acceptable, until he makes an important discovery.



Praise for The Hardest Word: A Yom Kippur Story

“This delightful take, featuring a loveable, klutzy bird teaching the essential
lessons of the High Holidays, is just perfect! . . . This book is a must!”
—San Diego Jewish Times



“The very complicated lessons of atonement and forgiveness on Yom Kippur
are introduced to children in a warm and humorous story.”—Washington Jewish Week


A NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARDS FINALIST



AN ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LIBRARIES NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOK

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  1. Reading age
    3 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 2
  5. Publisher
    Kar-Ben Publishing ®
  6. Publication date
    January 1, 2014
  7. Page Flip
    Not Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Not Enabled
  10. Sticky notes
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  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A breezy plot, a whirlwind protagonist, a sense of the silly and vibrant an combine to explain a vital part of our most somber and introspective holiday...Kar-Ben deserves our thanks for publishing another appealing gem."

About the Author

Jacqueline Jules is an award-winning author and poet. Her many children's books include The Hardest Word (National Jewish Book Award finalist), What a Way to Start the New Year! A Rosh Hashanah Story, and Moses and the Runaway Lamb. She lives in Long Island, New York.

Katherine Janus Kahn studied Fine Arts at the Bezalel School in Jerusalem and at the University of Iowa. She has illustrated many children's books including Kar-Ben's popular Sammy Spider series. She lives in Wheaton, Maryland.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DCGJ794
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kar-Ben Publishing ® (January 1, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10506 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 75 ratings

About the author

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Jacqueline Jules

Jacqueline Jules

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Jacqueline Jules is a former school librarian and author of forty books for young readers, including the Zapato Power series, the Sofia Martinez series, Pluto is Peeved, Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation, Duck for Turkey Day, Sarah Laughs, Never Say a Mean Word Again and Feathers for Peacock. She is also a poet and the author of three poetry chapbooks, Field Trip to the Museum, Stronger than Cleopatra, and Itzhak Perlman's Broken String. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Cicada, Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, YARN, Germ Magazine, The Poetry Friday Anthologies, and One Minute Till Bedtime. She is a strong advocate for literacy and education. Please visit her at http://www.jacquelinejules.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
75 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Janet Weinstein Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect way to present the dmeaning of the Holidayh to kids
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. The pictures are bright and engaging. The story is very readable and presents the meaning of the holiday in an easy and interesting way. I will use this book as part of a children's service.
One person found this helpful
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Jean Clark
5.0 out of 5 stars Yom Kippur for Children
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2023
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This book introduces this Holy Day in a way a child can understand it and participate.
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lrlevy59
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for the Yom Kippur holiday
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2015
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A great story written with simple text for young readers that still has deep meaning that connects to the most serious holiday of Yom Kippur. Beautiful illustrations add to the tale as well.
One person found this helpful
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MP Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice lesson in a fun book
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2018
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My son requested I give this five stars! It’s got a very nice moral about the importance of apologizing for your mistakes, tying nicely into Jewish values, while also being entertaining for kids. My son has made me read it dozens of times.
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Thomas Rehermann
4.0 out of 5 stars The one point one could make is that the bird is not doing something bad, he just can not find the hardest word
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2014
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The book brings out a key part of this high holiday, i.e. saying "I am sorry". The one point one could make is that the bird is not doing something bad, he just can not find the hardest word. Failing to accomplish a task is not inherently a sin. There are many occasions in life where we say "I am sorry" and the most important ones is when we did something purposefully or omitted something that was not right. That is different from not being able to do something. The bird regretted his inability to find the hardest word and that genuine regret caused him to say "I am sorry". This is also one way to bring the substance closer to children. The bird also rectifies an earlier mishap (again, not done on purpose) and restores a garden playground for children. This is a good book. It should be complemented with a book that describes Yom Kippur more explicit in theological terms with great pictures. One of these books is "On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur" by Cathy Goldberg Fishman, a true gem.
3 people found this helpful
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Sandra
5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Reminder
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2014
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Jules focuses on the ramifications of people’s mistakes. However, her story is seen through the eyes of Ziz, a mythical flying creature. Ziz has the propensity to cause destruction due to his enormous size. Many times, Ziz is able to fix the problems that he causes. On one occasion, he sought God’s advice on how to fix one of his calamities. God sent him on a mission to find the hardest word. Searching the world, he came up with dozens of answers. None were correct. Frustrated and sad, he approached God with no more answers. He simply apologized. Finally, he had found the hardest word, “sorry.”

“Sorry” can be the hardest word for some. Anyone reading this book will be reminded of the importance of this word. The references to God may or may not be appropriate in all settings. Most will consider this book more relevant to a Jewish audience. Young Jewish children will see Ziz as a role model for appropriate behavior by following his example of saying “I’m sorry” on Yom Kippur as well as the rest of the year.
3 people found this helpful
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Amalya
5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Start to Understanding Yom Kippur
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2021
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This is a book whose challenging goal is to begin to teach about Yom Kippur and the abstract concept of atonement. The author wisely uses the phrase “I’m sorry” since children are familiar with it. The main character learn as the story develops that “I’m sorry” is the hardest thing to say.. I think it is a good first attempt to tackle a very complicated subject, but it requires parental discussion and guidance.
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Bruce Wolf
5.0 out of 5 stars very nice book
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2013
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I bought this for my 5 year old granddaughter. The story is very cute and keeps her attention. The lesson taught is excellent. The illustrations are well done. She loves the book and wants it read to her every night.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Peter Marmorek
5.0 out of 5 stars Good accessible story
Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2019
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A story that makes the idea of Yom Kippur accessible to young children. Suitable for all religions, as well. Pictures are a fine accompaniment. Based on a Hasidic tale, but adapted....
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Martyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2017
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If you need to teach children how to say sorry (and it's meaning) - this will help...
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