Review: Kayla & Kugel’s Super Sweet Rosh Hashanah

Kayla and Kugel's Super Sweet Rosh Hashanah

written and illustrated by Ann D. Koffsky

Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025

Category: Picture Book
Reviewer: Judy Ehrenstein

Buy at Bookshop.org

Kayla and her dog Kugel set off for the farmer’s market to get ready for Rosh Hashanah in this richly illustrated book for newly independent readers. Kugel runs in circles, which Kayla equates with the round challahs for the holiday, and accidentally knocks over honey jars, an example of a mistake in need of an apology. Other holiday related things included are the blowing of a shofar, picking apples, and taschlich.
A note to readers offers up some discussion questions and a brief glossary.

This story, part of a series, offers Jewish children age appropriate ways to connect to the preparations and meaning of Rosh Hashanah. The humorous antics of Kugel are used to convey some facts, which Kayla clearly understands and takes joy in sharing, although they are not particularly deep. Holiday books for this age reader are rare, especially ones with a contemporary setting and humor. 

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Reviewer Judy Ehrenstein is a children’s librarian in Maryland and a member of AJL’s Holiday Highlights committee. 

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