Apostrophe Books Has a Yom Kippur Selection

Apostrophe Books, Belmont Shore's only bookstore on 2nd Street, offers many books about faith and particularly books geared toward children to help the community observe their faith and inform their families.

Patch asked co-owner Valerie Kingsland to select a nice children's book for this important day, and she sent us "The Hardest Word," which we share with you.

Here'a a blurb about the book: "The Ziz, a clumsy but goodhearted bird of folklore, accidentally destroys a vegetable garden, and when he asks God for advice, he learns the importance of apologizing."


 Also known as Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for those of the Jewish faith. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period offasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im ("Days of Awe").

So the 'importance of apologizing' is a very practical way of storytelling for children that reflects atonement and making amends.