It's about tashlich, but also about how our thoughtless actions harm others; in this case, the sins of a father are visited on his sons. When I mentioned to a rabbi that I found this troubling, he explained that children are affected by their parents' behavior.
I always warned younger children that it might be a bit scary---a giant monster arises from the water---but they didn't mind. ( )

This book is about a traditional Jewish man who does not take responsibility for his wrongdoings. When his wife wont get pregnant he goes to a magical rabbi who supposedly can help. Gershon is rude to the rabbi, as he is with everyone else, and the rabbi says that his wife will have twins in a year but that they will die on their fifth birthday because Gershon is not sorry for the way he treats others. Gershom forgot all about what the rabbi warned him about and suddenly on the twins' fifth birthday he remembers. He runs down to the seashore and a monster made up of all his wrongdoings comes to smite him or his children. Gershon feels sorry and begs for mercy for the first time in his life. Gershon's repentance saves him and his children. This is a Mythic tale because it is a religious story with oral origins. This story try's to teach its readers a lesson in treating others the right way. ( )

I liked this book because I could use this in many ways in the classroom. I could read and ask why the character is feeling this way. What are wrong doings in most peoples eyes. I could ask so many questions about the pictures even. ( )

While this story is informational, I think it is depressing. The illustrations depict the text very well and the reader gets a sense of the setting. The story explains a little bit about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and other customs of the Jewish culture. I do not know that I would recommend this book for younger children. The depiction of the sins (monsters) being cast out of the body was a bit alarming. I am not sure that young children would take well to those images. The plot of the story may be a bit over their heads as well. I am not sure they could grasp the concept of how a Rabbi could grant the couple a child or not. I thought the response of the Rabbi was harsh in that if the couple had children they may die because of all the terrible things their father had done and said to people. I understand the concept of the story and why some may think it appropriate for the theme, but maybe for an older group of children definitely not Kindergartners. ( )

I think that is book is great in that it has a great moral and is also educational. It tells about the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah and some of the other customs older Jewish people may have had. I think the story also has a great moral that you should be careful what you do and to say thank you, and other things like that. It would be a great book to use for kids when learning about different holidays or for even for kids to learn just to have manners. The illustrations in the book were very nice, and depicted the people they were going for.