Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride

My 3 and 5 year-old kids are learning about Rosh Hashanah and this book was perfect! The story has history, culture, and a moral lesson, and the illustrations show the beautiful agriculture scenes of Israel. The Hebrew glossary was a great learning tool as well. Highly recommend!

We received our book and it’s clear it isn’t a new copy of the book. We own this story and love it but got this as a gift for a friend. We will be returning it since the copy we received was not new and it not in gifts le condition.

Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride is a deligthful book. I purchased this book for a grandchild to teach her about the Feast of Trumpets. She asked for it again and again. The story starts out historically as the first train goes from Jaffa to Jerusalem. Engineer Ari is chosen from among the engineers to make the first trip. Consoling himself that someone has to be "first", he treats his friends badly. As he ends up in Jerusalem on Rosh Hashanah, he turns around (makes teshuva) to return to Jaffa to apologize to his friends and take them Rosh Hashanah treats. This book is true to form on teaching the essence of the Holiday. The illustrations done beautifully.

This series is a favorite with our little guy. He looks fwd to each book emerging from storage as the relevant holiday approaches.The premise of these is just genius. No better way to communicate with a toddler about Jewish holidays than thru the medium of a red steam engine!

They read this to my grandson in preschool. His name is Ari and he loved the story.

So cute (and my son's name is Ari which makes it even better).

Great gift for a baby boy named Ari

The year is 1892 and Engineer Ari is in charge of driving the train on its first trip from Jaffa to Jerusalem. His pride becomes boastful as he brags to his friends about his important job. As he drives the train through Israel, he collects gifts along the way, including apples, honey, and loaves of round challahs. But his joy is tempered with guilt for having mistreated his friends. As Ari approached Jerusalem with all the Rosh Hashana treats, he remembers that during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur it is time to do teshuvah, and decides to drive the train back to his friends to apologize. Kids and trains are a natural combination and the picture book medium is perfect for telling a story of this important time in Israel's history. Without being didactic, Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride teaches youngsters about the importance of kindness, personal responsibility, and forgiveness. Bodin Cohen has not only recreated an important historical event, she seamlessly connects the event to an essential aspect of Judaism. The illustrations capture the essence of various locations throughout Israel. The color palette subtly shifts with each locale, but the train is bright red throughout. The double spread illustration of the train approaching Jerusalem is particularly lovely. An author's note provides background information about the train, which will be of interest to teachers and students. Overall, a wonderful ride for pre-school and primary students, and school libraries. Reviewed Barbara Bietz