SWEET BABE!
A Jewish Grandma Kvells
Coming February 18th, 2025
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.
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.
Praise for SWEET BABE!
“This book deserves every exclamation point!! I kvelled (and giggled) my way through it. It reminded me of all my old aunties whenever a new Yolen baby was born. I laughed my tuchus off!!”
—Jane Yolen, Jewish Grandmother and author of How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah and Owl Moon
“Joyous, uplifting, and pure fun—a perfect read for grannies babysitting their own bubbelehs.”
—Kirkus Reviews Full Review here.
“How well do you kvell? Robin Rosenthal’s ‘Sweet Babe!’ is a master class in the art of over-the-top grandparental adoration. This bubbe wears modern yoga clothes, but I think she could outkvell my great-grandmother! A diagram and Yiddish glossary at the end provide assurance that this is an educational document, in case you think it’s just a brilliantly designed, hilarious explosion of unlimited baby-love.”
—Paul O. Zelinsky, Caldecott-winning author/illustrator of Rapunzel and The Wheels on the Bus and illustrator of All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah and Red and Green and Blue and White
“How does one Jewish grandmother dote on a toddler grandchild? With theatrical flourish (“Look. At. This. BABY!!”), absolute conviction (“You’re a genius”), and affectionate irony (“OY, you’re so sweet, I have a toothache”). But most of all, via lots of Yiddish words, including bubbeleh, ketzleleh, hertzeleh, and terms that present a full accounting of the baby’s features. Making her authorial debut, Rosenthal brings this laugh-out-loud linguistic breakdown to life through the broadly cartooned interplay between a pale-skinned grandmother and grandchild, portrayed in distilled single-plane spreads. Beginning and ending with a game of peekaboo, it’s a work truly focused on unadulterated kvelling, expressing cross-generational love through two sets of wide eyes and operatic text that speaks to an unalloyed bond.”
—Publishers Weekly Full Review Here.