Sweet Babe!: A Jewish Grandma Kvells

by Robin Rosenthal

An exuberant and interactive picture book for grandparents and their genius, sweet, precious, SO-CUTE-I-CAN'T-STAND-IT! grandbabies, and a celebration of Yiddish and Jewish joy. For fans of Goodnight Bubbala and Leslie Patricelli.

Look at this baby . . . what a genius! And such a shayne punim, too! From the top of baby's adorable head to the tips of their toes, there's nothing for a grandma not to adore in her little bubbeleh. Sweet Babe takes babies and their bubbies, not to mention grandparents of every stripe, on a delightful read-aloud journey that practically cries out for frequent cheek-squishing and keppie (head)-kissing in this irresistible celebration of the connection between grandparent and grandchild, and of Jewish joy through the generations.

Includes a Yiddish glossary at the back with transliterated vocabulary.

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Family, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 18, 2025

Reviews

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

My nephew absolutely loved this book. As a Jewish woman nearing the grandmother stage it felt very natural and super accurate. What an exciting book for little ones. Nearly as exciting as a real live bubbe (Yiddish for Grandma). I just got video from my brother showing the family outing (Nephew’s first one at 2 months) at the Author/Illustrator Robin Rosenthall’s reading in Brooklyn today. nephew is enthralled!

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually in picture books depicting babies I want to snuggle and kiss on the tiny cuties and maybe eat their toes a little. In this instance I want to hug that sweet bubbe! Everyone should be loved how a Jewish grandma loves.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Sweet Babe! is an adorable ode to all the grandmas and their grandkids by Robin Rosenthal. Released 18th Feb 2025 by Penguin Random House on their Tundra Books imprint, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is *such* a sweet and exuberant little book. It's a celebration of the special alliance that exists between grandmothers and their grandkids. Fully illustrated with simple humorous drawings throughout (see cover); the drawings are full of movement and fun. Every grownup ever has played "where's the baby?!?", and this one brings the smiles.

The particular grandma in the story is Jewish, and the book is full of Yiddish words and sentence construction humorous and warm. The author has included a small glossary at the back, but the words won't give any troubles at all in context.

Five stars. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home library, or for story-time/caregivers/babysitters/grandparents, etc.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's time for some baby fun as these pages invite young listeners to giggles and play.

These pages are packed with energy and inspire to those silly games, which the youngest of the listener group love. The grandmother covers the baby with a small blanket, and when it pulls it away, shouts There you are! (or something similar). It's very straight-forward and concentrates on this type of fun the entire way through. There are few words...just enough to propel the games forward and bring smiles to the face. This is the type of book, which won't only be read and studied thanks to the illustrations, but invites readers to lay it aside and do the games themselves. Young listeners will definitely squeal with glee if this happens.

The Jewish aspect slides in with several terms the grandmother uses. These come in naturally and light, letting the Yiddish language introduce itself without adding any weight to the fun. There is a glossary at the end with a list of the words and their definitions. It adds a nice, language touch.

This is simply an entertaining read, which will have young listeners wanting to join in on the fun themselves...which will guarantee smiles and laughter from both the child as well as the older reader.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

SWEET BABE is a hilarious and warm celebration of the love shared between grandparent and grandchild. Anyone with a Jewish grandma will recognize the exuberant kvelling and perhaps even hear echoes of their own grandparents as the grandma delivers kisses and noms the sweet, little “pulkies”. Rosenthal’s charming characters and eye-catching colors pair perfectly with the laugh-out-loud text. She is a masterful designer, laying out each page with care. Readers will be delighted to find an illustrated Yiddish glossary at the end. The joyful exuberance will keep proud Bubbes and Zaydes coming back to read this book with their precious “bubbelehs” again and again.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me think of a stereotypical Jewish grandma who is very excited to see their grandbaby. There are words in here the give reason for the glossary in the back, which is part of what makes me think Jewish grandma. This was just fun. That baby talk, happy to see them, their tummy, type of book. The illustrations are really fun. The catalog page tells how the book was illustrated, probably to stave off any idea this might be AI. I think this book was beautiful and fun and something kids would love to hear having read to them.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently collecting books for my granddaughter for when she is at the age to read or to read to her. "SWEET BABE" is a wonderful book for her. This was an ARC book, and I am happy to review it.

It's about a grandmother and her grandbaby. They are playing typical games grandparents play with their grandkids. I can't wait to read this book to her. First, I'm going to need to learn how to pronounce the Yiddish words, so I say them correctly when reading to my granddaughter. The illustrations are fun too.

Thank you for the glossary and the meanings of the Yiddish words used.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this colorful picture book, we follow a bubbly Bubbe interacting with her grandchild. The words are bold, and the illustrations are large and full of life. As she hugs and kisses, squeezes and tickles, readers learn Yiddish words, and can decipher them from a glossary at the end. A Jewish Grandma’s pride reminds us how precious the love is that we feel for our family. This is a wonderfully exuberant celebration of emotions, that will have grandparents reading and cuddling and expressing their own special connections with their grandchildren.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a grandparents story time, I channeled my inner Mike Myers (from SNL days when he did the character Linda Richman) to read this hilarious book about a Jewish grandmother who is absolutely OVER THE MOON about her grandbaby! Charming! Plus you learn some very cool Yiddish words.
I highly recommend.
In 1990, a similar classic book about boundless love for babies won a Caldecott honor. More More More Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams would make a perfect pairing with SWEET BABE!

[Sabina Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't STAND it, how cute this book is!!

I love the words and the little doggie being so expressive, but more than anything else, I love the grandma. She is so chic and so full of love and joie de vivre.

Robin's sense of color - restrained but vibrant and her typography are pretty amazing too.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so sweet I have a toothache. (Just like grandma gets in the book while playing with her grand baby.) The illustrations are fun. My granddaughter and I had a good time finding the dog on each page and had some good laughs when we did. Readers learn some Jewish words following along as a typical grandma plays with her baby. The typical grandma story makes for an outstanding book.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oy vey! What a fabulous introduction to Yiddish, using some of the most common words and phrases to express the joy of being a grandparent. And what fun to read aloud to your favorite hertzeleh, especially with all the gestures. Adorable illustrations of Bubbe and the baby might make you kvell over your own bubbeleh.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’M KVELLING!!!! This book just perfectly encapsulates the joy a grandparent has to see a baby!!!!!!

[Chave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a such super fun boog with awesome graphics for anybody with a old Jewish bubby.

Would highly recommend.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that it uses yiddish words and has a glossary of terms

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun and adorable

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. I love the Yiddish glossary back matter.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it's because my own Yiddish-speaking mother now kvells over my son's pokies, but this got me right in the heart.