Apocrypha literally means "hidden" or "unknown" implying the authorship of a writing is unknown.  But apocrypha has come to mean the books  between the Old and New Testaments, sometimes also called the Deuterocanonical books or second canon.  The books of the Apocrypha are worth reading.  Tobit loses hope, but is faithful, so God blesses him.  Judith saves Israel from the Assyrian army.  Included is a longer version of Esther, additions to the Book of Daniel and the story of the Maccabees, their revolt and God's help, from which the Hanukkah holiday is derived.  In this Religion Today broadcast Martin Tanner describes not only the books and stories in the Apocrypha, but their meaning and lesson.