Big Sam: A Rosh Hashanah Tall Tale

2018 Sydney Taylor Notable Picture Book

"This book is nothing but pure fun from beginning to end, with a gentle environmental lesson thrown in". – Jewish Book Council

How does Big Sam make a GIANT-sized challah for Rosh Hashanah?

He digs an enormous hole in the ground to use as a mixing bowl. (It's still there today — we call it the Grand Canyon.

He adds mountains of flour, thousands of eggs, and other good things.

He whittles a massive California redwood tree into a mixing spoon. He flattens the hills of West Texas as he kneads the dough. And he bakes it inside Mount Saint Helens.

But when it's time to celebrate the holiday, the eagles call out, "Not so fast, Big Sam!" Rosh Hashanah is about fixing the world, and Big Sam has some MAJOR cleaning up to do.