Bubbie & Rivka's Best-Ever Challah (So Far!)

Intergenerational persistence defines Reul's tale of a Jewish grandparent and grandchild tackling a new project in fresh-baked challah. Rivka's grandmother is "not the cooking kind of Bubbie." At the close of what seems to be the woman's briefcase-toting career, she and Rivka share a goal: "Now we have time, so we'll figure it out together. It's our new tradition: to make a challah every Friday!" Their first tragic loaf ("flat and lumpy. And pale!") sees them troubleshooting problems, leading to a well-risen but burned version ("Oy gevalt"), and finally, a puffy, perfectly burnished plait. Reul creates a delightfully chic Bubbie wearing draped scarves and bold jewelry, and Rivka's gap-toothed delight at the duo's time learning together is thoroughly endearing. The blend of hand-done and digital techniques echo the book's theme of new-meets-old, and its iterative structure underlines the idea that "practice makes progress." The characters are portrayed with tan skin. A challah recipe concludes. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

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"Ruel's bright, colorful cartoons perfectly capture the love and humor of learning to bake. Rivka's and Bubbie's large, round brown eyes, facial expressions, and body language dramatically express every emotion and reaction. Young readers and their grands will feel the love and connect to their own family traditions." — "Kirkus Reviews"