The Babka Sisters

by Lesléa Newman, Tika And Tata Bobokhidze (Illustrator)

The great babka bake-off is on! Esther and Hester’s new neighbor, Sylvester, will gladly be their babka tester, and decide which sister’s Babka is the best. With cat Lester and dog Chester, the new friends enjoy a delicious Shabbat.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Jewish, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

About the author

Lesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.

Reviews

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a sweet, heimish, funny, Ashkenazi picture book! ❤️❤️❤️

[Marilyn Wolpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any sister or brother can relate to the competitive sisters in this charming, sometimes rhyming, sibling rivalry story by the multi-award-winning prolific author Lesléa Newman. When shvesters (Yiddish for sisters) Esther and Hester get a new neighbor, the competition is on to knock his socks off with their babka baking. With the wisdom of Solomon, new neighbor Sylvester declares that both sisters have made the best babka in the world. Best cinnamon filled to Esther. Best chocolate filled to Hester. But their foodie neighbor isn’t done with the competition.
With colorful and lively illustration by sisters Tika and Tata Bobokhidze, including Esther's cat Lester and Hester's dog Chester whose facial expressions reflect their owners’ emotions, the book is a gentle, happy ode to the sweetest of Jewish cuisine. The book includes a recipe for The Best Babka in the World and a Glossary of a few Yiddish words.
You don’t have to be Jewish to love babka and if you’ve never heard of this confection, this book ought to make readers young and old yearn for a taste.

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

What a tongue-twister! Full of rhyming words, this story features two sisters who are bound and determined to outdo each other as babka bakers. Their new neighbor judges whose is best and offers a Shabbat lesson and a fine meal to thank them, plus a new cook-off challenge. Vibrantly colorful illustrations add to the word-play fun. End pages include a Recipe for The Best Babka in the World and a glossary of terms mentioned in the story.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. A competition-style picture book with recipe included in the back. However, readers may get tired of saying the character names. Lester, Hester, Chester, Ester, Sylvester the babka tester--it just got VERY old, very quickly.

[Susan Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweetly Jewish competition between loving sisters and the clever neighbor who pits their skills against each other... because he gets the benefit of their cooking. :-D

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple, cute picture book is about Jewish sisters with a baking rivalry. The story and illustrations are quite charming, and I like how this ends on a humorous note.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

So great that it comes with a recipe for Babka

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two sisters compete to make the best Babka for their new neighbor. Elementary and up

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story, lots of rhyming. So glad there is a babka recipe included. I definitely need to try it!

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and funny little book. I liked the illustrations.

[Eric Rosswood · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BABKA SISTERS is a fun story about competitiveness, and understanding that someone doesn't have to lose in order for the other to win. The writing style had both of our kids laughing hysterically and our daughter asked for us to read it to her three times in a row. It will probably be the bedtime story tonight as well.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters Esther and Hester are excited to impress their neighbor Sylvester with the world's best babka -- only they can't agree on who does it better! It's a sister babka bake-off in this colorful picture book with silly rhyming text, yiddish vocabulary sprinkled in, and Shabbat dinner.

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this book and now my child is begging me for babka, thanks a lot! Very cute.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful rhyming book about food and a little friendly competition. Begs to be read aloud.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute story about baking and making new friends.