Talia and the Very Yum Kippur

Marshall and Assirelli reprise the format of 2011's Talia and the Rude Vegetables as Talia helps her grandmother prepare another holiday meal. This time Grandma is making kugel for the family's Yom Kippur break-fast meal. Talia mistakes "break-fast" for "breakfast," so she's confused about why the rest of the family left for synagogue without eating. "It's a fast day," explains Grandma. "It must be a very fast day if no one had time for breakfast," thinks a still-perplexed Talia. Eventually, Grandma tells Talia about the big evening meal and how, on Yom Kippur, "Jews fast and pray and think about how to be better people." The soft, rounded shapes of Assirelli's illustrations help establish the cozy, gently funny atmosphere of Talia's grandparents' rural home, and the pun-driven jokes keep the mood upbeat, even as Grandma introduces the idea of atonement (Talia apologizes to her grandmother for lying about the "lamp my doll broke"). It's a fine introduction to an important Jewish holiday, as well as a reminder that intangible things like forgiveness can be as delicious as the best kugel. Ages 3%E2%80%938. (Aug.)