Topics

  • Judaism and Jewish Holidays
  • Jewish Identity

Summary

With simple artwork, a pronunciation guide, and descriptions of the foods depicted, Bring Back the Babka! is ideal for young readers in grade K-2. The story follows brothers Sammy and Sol as they set out on a mission to find their mother’s missing babka – a sweet cake traditionally enjoyed on Shabbat by Eastern European Jews.

As the brothers search the neighborhood for their favorite Shabbat treat, they meet kind neighbors preparing their own traditional Shabbat meals. At each stop, the boys are offered samples and leftovers to bring home, and in turn invite their neighbors to join their family for dinner.

Students follow visual clues in the illustrations to help solve the mystery of the missing babka and come away with a warm introduction to the traditions of Shabbat and the value of community. They also find a detailed, step-by-step recipe for “mama’s missing babka” at the end of the story.