I Say Shehechiyanu

By Joanne Rocklin, Monika Filipina (Illustrator)

Discover the joy of firsts with a special blessing.

3.3/5 Goodreads · 6 ratings

24 pages

$6.95Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Join a young girl and her baby brother as they explore the joy of first experiences throughout the year. From celebrations to everyday moments, they embrace the Shehechiyanu blessing, expressing gratitude for new beginnings and cherished returns. This heartwarming journey through Jewish traditions highlights the beauty of appreciating life's milestones.

"When I taste a pomegranate for the very first time."

— from the book

From the publisher

Follow a little girl and her baby brother throughout the year as she says “Shehechiyanu”, the beautiful blessing for expressing thanks when something takes place for the first time, or when it happens again after a long time. I SAY SHEHECHIYANU, written by Joanne Rocklin and illustrated by Monika Filipina, is a beautiful picture book suitable for all Jewish festivities, celebrations, and the proud “first times” of childhood.

At a glance

Format: Paperback
Pages: 24
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD510L

Themes & topics

Books about gratitude

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Religious Leanings

This book is about the Jewish Shehechiyanu prayer.

After the last page

Talk about it together

What are some things you have done for the first time this year?

Good to know

Stories behind the story

What does Shehechiyanu mean?

“The Shehechiyanu is a really beautiful concept,” Rocklin said of the Hebrew blessing traditionally said upon experiencing something new. “It’s giving thanks and being in the moment and cherishing new things.”

For readers who can't stop at one