Apple Days

June 16, 2014
While Eden Ross Lipson’s Applesauce Season remains the gold standard on the subject, Soffer’s debut adds a fun Jewish angle to the profound resonance of a humble fruit puree. For school-aged Katy, applesauce-making and Rosh Hashanah are inextricably linked. It’s not just because it’s a food custom associated with the Jewish New Year—Katy and her mother have created a tradition of their own, “Apple Day,” which starts with a trip to a local orchard and ends with the kitchen filled “with the sweet smell of apples and cinnamon. Just thinking about it made Katy’s mouth water.” Soffer understands how kids savor rituals: every step is significant, and anticipation is to be broadly shared. When it looks like Apple Day might be derailed by the early arrival of Katy’s new cousin, her circle of friends and supporters—who range from peers to the woman who cuts her hair—pitches in. McMahon’s (All Kinds of Kids) cartooned drawings don’t offer much emotional depth, but they’re smartly composed and a solid accompaniment to Soffer’s upbeat and deeply empathic prose. Ages 2–7. Illustrator’s agent: Ronnie Ann Herman, Herman Agency Inc.

July 1, 2014

K-Gr 3-Traditionally, people eat apples dipped in honey for the Jewish New Year. They represent wishes for a sweet new year. In this story, the apple/honey combo is never mentioned, but Katy's family goes apple-picking and makes applesauce for the holiday. This year, Mom has to help with Katy's new cousin, so it looks like Apple Day will be cancelled-until the whole community steps in to help, contributing apples, cinnamon, lemon, and sugar. On the one hand, this is a heartwarming and empowering story about the support of friends and about finding creative solutions to problems. On the other hand, one can't help but wonder why Dad doesn't just step up to the plate. However, it is likely that only adults will notice this irony. The story is not really about Rosh Hashanah, but uses its traditions as a base. For readers who celebrate the holiday (and are perhaps tired of endless apple-and-honey stories), this variation is welcome. However, it is not a good introduction for those unfamiliar with it. A recipe for applesauce appears at the back, but no information is included about Rosh Hashanah. Readers will appreciate the racial diversity of Katy's class and neighborhood and the inclusion of a female principal and rabbi, as depicted in the colorful digital cartoon illustrations.-Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

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