Apple and Honey’s New Year Journey

In "Apple and Honey’s New Year Journey" by Lila Rosenfield, two food characters, Apple and Honey, embark on a humorous adventure to understand Rosh Hashanah. Initially, they believe their joint appearance on greeting cards signifies complete knowledge of the holiday. Their journey through a busy community kitchen introduces them to other food characters, such as a Date with a clever wish, a round Challah contemplating cycles, and a Pomegranate disputing seed counts. The story uses personification to create a lighthearted narrative while maintaining factual accuracy about the holiday. The book emphasizes that apples and honey are a widely observed custom, not a mandatory or exclusive food for the Jewish New Year.

The narrative explores themes of cooperation and understanding, as Apple desires only sweetness, while Honey learns that a meaningful year encompasses both serious reflection and celebration. Illustrations within the book depict diverse family and regional traditions. A visual glossary helps distinguish the fictional personalities of the food characters from genuine holiday information. The story incorporates a read-aloud refrain that evolves with each encounter, encouraging participation. An accompanying adult page provides suggestions for tasting activities, a moment for focused listening, and conversational prompts.