New High Holiday Books for 2026
Welcome the Jewish New Year with one of these great new children’s books. There are four for Rosh Hashana, a funny Yom Kippur book and even an awesome book for the Days of Awe.
Four Fun Rosh Hashanah Books
Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah:
Reverse Tashlich for a Better World
Rachelle Burk
Craig Orback, Illustrator
Rachelle Burk has written another fascinating picture book biography for school age children. When I saw the title of Burke’s newest book I had to ask myself. “What is Reverse Tashlich?” Most kids know that Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year. But they may not be familiar with the custom of Tashlich. In the Jewish tradition of Tashlich, one casts bread upon running water as a symbolic sending away of mistakes for the past year. Burk captures the story of Rabbi Ed Rosenthal who combined that custom and the concept of tikkun olam, to “repair the world”. In other words, instead of casting bread into the water, his group removes man’s mistakes and help clean the ocean. This ocean cleanup has become a worldwide movement. Burke shows how passion and drive can indeed help repair the world. Once again, publisher Intergalactic Afikoman has teamed Burk up with the talented illustrator Craig Orback, who helped create Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah and Passover on Everest. Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah is another fantastic juvenile biography that you will want to read.
Come back Later this week for interview with the author.
Picture Book
Print length: 40 pages , Hardcover
Publisher : Intergalactic Afikoman
Publication date : August 4, 2026
ISBN 9781951365356
Rosh Hashanah: Square-Circle-Star!:
A First Shapes Book
Joy Nelkin Wieder
Aura Lewis, Illustrator
This adorable board book pairs the holiday of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah with the concept of shapes. The cute catchy rhymes pair the shapes and symbols illustrated by aura Lewis. Little ones can see the basic shape along with a picture of a holiday symbol. Toddlers can recognize a circle in the round challah or a square in a piece of honey cake. But the author also adds concepts that a preschooler would be working on like a spiral shofar or a cylinder jar of gefilte fish. This cute book is ideal for the holiday or any time of the year.
Come back Later this week for interview with the author.
Board Book
Print length: 24 pages
Publisher : Abrams Appleseed
Publication date : August 4, 2026
ISBN 9781419776205
Stella’s Special Recipe: A Rosh Hashanah Story
Melissa Stoller
Valerya Milovanova, Illustrator
No food is more special than a family recipe that has been handed down through the generations. This sweet intergenerational story captures the love felt when cooking together. In the story, Stella is finally old enough to help make her great grandmother’s cabbage rolls for Rosh Hashana dinner, and she notices that there are several additions written down. Mother explains that although the recipe was handed down from one generation to the next, each person has added their own special twist to the recipe. When Stella starts to mix the ingredients, the basic recipe “Cabbage plus meat, rice and eggs” appears in large font. As she reads the next ingredient and hears Mom’s story, the phrase is repeated along with that ingredient. My little listener loved the ever-growing repeating phrase and the onomatope sound effects. The cute pastel pictures recalled a vintage illustration style that added a homey feeling. This sweet story stresses the importance of intergenerational connection and encourages creativity with the added ingredients. Although this is a Rosh Hashana story, it is without any reference to religious activities. Cooking with a parent or grandparent is a great way to bond. It is a universal activity and this story can be enjoyed by kids of any background. My grandchild loves books with recipes and can’t wait to try this one.
Picture Book
Print length: 24 pages , Hardcover
Publisher : Kar-Ben Publishing
Publication date : August 4, 2026
ISBNKar-Ben Publishing
The Sweetest Rosh Hashanah: Festivals of the World
Mara Bergman,
Aura Lewis (illustrator)
This sweet Rosh Hashana story centers on forgiveness and frames this central Rosh Hashana theme in a way that youngsters can understand. When a youngster does not wish to play with her cousin who had been bossy and greedy, she must accept an apology and forgive. Aura Lewis brings the story to life in her usual colorful manner.
Picture Book
Print length:32 pages , Hardcover
Publisher : Candlewick
Publication date : August 4, 2026
ISBN 9781536244717
Awesome Book
for the Days of Awe
Awe! It’s Everywhere
Chana Stiefel
Susan Gal, Illustrator
“A.W.E., an Awesome Wondrous Empowering emotion!” Chana Stiefel’s new book explores that feeling that makes you go oooh, Ahhh or Wow. Her simple text is complimented by literally awesome illustrations from illustrator Susan Gal who presents small miracles like a spider web and overpowering vistas like Yosemite Park and Aroura Borealis. Although the book encourages readers to find awe everywhere at any time, the book is especially appropriate during the Days of Awe between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
Picture Book
Print length: 48 pages , Hardcover
Publisher : Scholastic
Publication date : March 3, 2026, 2026
ISBN 9781546150350
Yom Kippur Humor
I’m Sorry for the Bagel Burps:
A Yom Kippur Apology
Jacob Sager Weinstein
Jason Kirschner, Illustrator
Sibling rivalry can cause constant ribbing and teasing that doesn’t even stop for Yom Kippur. When one brother is old enough to fast for the first time, he teases his younger brother that he is a baby. So the baby taunts him all day long with the sight and smell of food, including bagel scented burps. A funny story and cartoon style illustrations make this Yom Kippur tale a great choice.
Picture Book
Print length: 32 pages , Hardcover
Publisher : Rocky Pond Books
Publication date : September 1, 2026
ISBN 9798217006410
More Holiday Favorites
These reviews are just for this year’s High Holiday children’s books.
You can read about last year’s holiday books here.
2025 Rosh Hashanah Picture Books
Five Books for 2025 include two books by Ann Koffsky and Finding Forgiveness by Rebecca Gardyn Levington. Read their interviews too.
Interview with
Ann Koffsky
Ann discusses several recent books including Kayla and Kugel’s Super Sweet Rosh Hashanah, and My Shofar: A Rosh Hashanah Board Book
Rebecca Gardyn Levington –
Finding Forgiveness
Rebecca Gardyn Levington discusses her picture book Finding Forgiveness.
Looking for more? Check out my Goodreads Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Books shelf for larger lists of suggested High Holiday books for all ages- toddler to adult. Look on my Goodreads profile for other holiday shelves or check out Bubbe’s Bookshelf for an extensive list of Jewish Kidlit.
