Marilyn’s Debut Picture Book
About Bring Back the Babka!
When brothers Sol and Sammy search for their mama’s missing babka in their diverse Jewish neighborhood, they find other delicious treats and words of wisdom from each friend they visit. Readers can follow clues in the illustrations to solve the mystery of the missing babka in this heartwarming and humorous tale of community members coming together to make a Shabbat meal complete. End matter includes information on the Jewish foods mentioned in the book as well as a babka recipe.
Classroom Discussion Guide
Coloring Sheet
Praise for Bring Back the Babka!
“I absolutely adore this book. Everyone should read it (but not on an empty stomach!)” – Lesléa Newman, author of The Babka Sisters
“Who doesn’t love babka or any sweet, home-baked treat? The accompanying backmatter – especially a babka recipe – adds another delicious layer to this delightful book!” – Valerie Bolling, author of 2023 Kirkus Prize finalist for Together We Swim
Available now from Barefoot Books or the booksellers below:
Buy now from Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Target
Bring Back the Babka! in the press
Read The Journal in Monmouth County, New Jersey, here.
Read the School Library Journal review here.
From the July 2025 edition of the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle:
Read the Horn Book review here.
From the Dec 23/Jan 24 Issue of AJL News and Reviews, Gloria Koster writes: “This sweet tale has universal appeal and can be enjoyed by readers of all backgrounds. A likely choice for Jewish schools and institutions, it is recommended for public schools and public libraries as well.”
Title Name: Bring Back the Babka!
A recent review from CLCD (Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database):
Author Name: Wolpin, Marilyn
Review: Mama’s just-baked babka, a cinnamon one with golden-brown crust and sugar-sweet filling, is missing and the time for Shabbat dinner is rapidly approaching. What’s dinner without dessert, especially when the rabbi is coming? Sammy and Sol, with Mazel the pet dog, scour a rather timeless rural neighborhood looking for the babka. During the boys’ search, their neighbors treat them to samples of cuisine from various homelands representing the Jewish diaspora in Eastern Europe, Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. In addition to the tasty treats and a substitute for the missing babka to take home, the neighbors also serve up words of wisdom. “Cholent is a lot like life. Good things take time.” “[G]efilte fish is a lot like life. You take two kinds of fish, mash them together with a little of this and that, and you get something even better.” In thanks, the boys invite their neighbors to join them for dinner. Richly colored illustrations are reminiscent of traditional Russian folk art, but one modern neighbor sports dyed red hair and tattoos. Back matter includes photos of and information about the dishes that Sammy and Sol sample on their search as well as a detailed recipe for Mama’s Missing Babka. Observant readers will note a clue at the end of the back matter that confirms the babka thief was well-known to the family.
Ages: 4 – 7
Reviewer Rating: 5
The Literate Cat 