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." VERDICT This short and sweet primer on saying sorry for one's wrongs is a useful SEL selection for everyone.--Rachel Owens

A bad mood prompts a lesson on proper apologies. Hannah is a charming child…most of the time. On the eve of Yom Kippur, she starts the day by being mean to her brother and making a mess in her already cluttered room. When her mother objects, Hannah offers an insincere "Sorry!" After Hannah accidentally breaks her mother's favorite Rosh Hashana decoration, her mother decides to teach her what a true apology entails. Her mother writes the numbers 1, 2, and 3 on several pieces of paper and places them on the floor. Jumping on the number 1, Hannah learns to first admit she did something wrong. As Hannah jumps onto the number 2, her mother tells her the next step is feeling remorse. And number 3 is promising to do one's best in the future. Hannah progresses through the apology, learning how to make amends, and everything culminates with loving hugs all around. Colorful, bold drawings made up of geometric shapes depict a tan-skinned Jewish family; human characters have oversized round heads, while the family dog has a triangular-shaped face. The book ends with a brief note on Yom Kippur, and though this is a good story to share in anticipation of the Jewish Day of Atonement, it's also a sound year-round message for any child figuring out how to contend with negative emotions. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An enlightening, child-friendly exploration of what it really means to say "I'm sorry." (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.