Three Jumps to Sorry: A Yom Kippur Story

K-Gr 2–Hannah is a delightful child. But on the eve of Yom Kippur, she’s having a hard time managing a grumpy mood. After an escalation of anger, Hannah kicks a soccer ball in the house and breaks her mother’s special glass apple. Hannah’s not-so-sincere apology prompts her mother to guide Hannah through a hopscotch-like kinesthetic version of a proper apology in three jumps. The exercise helps Hannah come to an earnest realization of her wrong, a healthy remorse, and a commitment to try to do better next time. Vivid colors in a combination of spot art and full-bleed pages include characters with communicative body language. In a subtly cute touch, a small brown dog mimics Hannah’s changing emotions. The apology lesson is guided by the principles of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement; but any kid can learn from the three jumps, regardless of religion or background. Except perhaps for her lightning-fast ascent from annoyed lip service to genuine apology, Hannah is a highly relatable kid who wants to do the right thing but doesn’t always “make good choices.”