The Hardest Word

The Ziz, a clumsy but good-hearted bird of folklore, is always making mistakes. When he accidentally ruins a children’s vegetable garden, he instantly feels badly for the children and asks God for advice. Though the hardest word for the Ziz to say is “sorry,” he arrives to apologize for the garden damage with his own garden’s bounty to share with the children. Addressing the complexities of saying sorry, the book presents a powerful lesson on forgiveness, and teshuvah– turning around one’s behavior. The “turning” is naturally embedded in the apology. It’s not called out, spelled out, or anything else-out. It’s just the way it is.

Ages: 4-7