Overview

Jillian isn't so sure she needs a third grandma now that her stepdad is joining the family, but can her brand-new Bubbe win her over? When Jillian joins Bubbe for some mom-mandated matzo ball soup making, she realizes she has room in her heart (and stomach!) for one more grandmother. But how can she convince Noni and Gram she still loves them just as much? A super soup celebration, of course! Chaos in the kitchen leads to matzo ball soup, spicy gazpacho, meatball soup, and a trio of grandmas united in their love for their family. Complete with all three soup recipes, Brand-New Bubbe captures the warmth of blended family and honors the joys of cooking with the ones you love.

Full Product Details

9781623542498

Table of Contents

Reviews

Jillian likes her new stepfather but isn't sure about her new grandmother. Bubbe, Yiddish for grandmother, is very loving, but Jillian does not appreciate this affection. She already has two grandmas-Gram and Noni-and a great-grandma. She doesn't need a person who gives lipstick-laden kisses and introduces new holidays and words (kvelling and kvetching) she doesn't understand. When her mom insists that Jillian give Bubbe a chance, Jillian, tan-skinned with brown hair, reluctantly agrees to join her brand-new grandmother as Bubbe prepares soup and teaches Jillian to make perfect matzah balls. After tasting the delicious concoction, Jillian plans a celebration for everyone: her mother, her stepfather, her father, and all her grandmothers (and her great-grandma). The three grandmas make their special soups and create a feast for everyone-a lovely way to bring a blended family together. Humorous, expressive illustrations track Jillian's many moods; the interactions between Bubbe's dog and her cat are especially funny. Filled with good tastes and intentions, the story will ring true where families have stayed friendly after divorce and remarriage. Jillian's family is a diverse one-Bubbe is Jewish, and the family members range in skin tone. Backmatter includes recipes for all three grannies' soups (Bubbe's matzah ball soup, Noni's Italian wedding soup, and Gram's gazpacho). (This book was reviewed digitally.) A winning reminder that though family might evolve, it's always anchored by love. -Kirkus Reviews When her mom remar ries, Jil lian gets a new step dad and a new bubbe. Since she already has a Noni and a Gram, Jil lian is not inter est ed in adding any one else new to her fam i ly. Bubbe can't seem to win Jillian's affec tions no mat ter what she tries. But when she brings over the ingre di ents to make mat zo ball soup, Jil lian can't resist. After slurp ing down a few bowls, she has an idea. Jil lian invites all three of her grand moth ers - plus her dad and her great-grand moth er -for a Super Soup Cel e bra tion. Noni makes Ital ian meat ball soup, Gram makes gaz pa cho and of course, Bubbe makes mat zo ball soup. And, Jil lian quick ly real izes, Like soup, fam i ly was made with love. And there was always room for more. The final page spread shows Jillian's preg nant moth er, and obser vant read ers will be delight ed to dis cov er an adorable new sib ling run ning across the end pages. Bright, col or ful, expres sive illus tra tions depict a fun-lov ing, con tem po rary, mul ti cul tur al, and inter faith blend ed fam i ly. And it's refresh ing to see three bicy cle-rid ing and bas ket ball-play ing grand moth ers: Bubbe with frizzy red hair and hip pur ple glass es; petite Gram in a styl ish head band, hik ing boots, and shorts; and tall, slen der Noni with a red beret and pearls. All three soup recipes, with detailed instruc tions, are append ed along with a list of resources for inter-faith and blend ed fam i lies. Sim i lar to Chick en Soup, Chick en Soup by Pamela May er, illus trat ed by Deb o rah Mel mon (Kar-Ben, 2016), and Tale of Two Seders by Mindy Avra Port noy, illus trat ed by Vale ria Cis (Kar-Ben, 2010), young read ers who can per son al ly relate to Jil lian will feel val i dat ed and seen, and all read ers will dis cov er that fam i ly is more than blood and there is no one right way to blend a fam i ly. As Aron son writes in her after ward: The only manda to ry ingre di ents for cel e brat ing your fam i ly are patience, humor, and of course, lots and lots of love! -Rachel Kamin, Jewish Book Council

A skeptical girl overcomes hesitations to connect a blended family in Brand-New Bubbe, an interfaith celebration of open-mindedness and the unifying power of a good bowl of soup. Jillian, happy with her theater-loving Noni and adventurous Gram, greets her new really nice stepdad's mother, the boisterous bubbe (Yiddish for grandmother), with outright hostility. She didn't want [Noni and Gram] to feel left out. Or, even worse, replaced. Eventually Jillian's mom scolds her for her unwelcoming behavior and forces her into a matzo ball soup-making lesson. The delicious broth Bubbe cooks opens Jillian's mind: Like soup, family was made with love. And there was always room for more. Understanding now that family is more than blood, Jillian connects several generations of relatives over a homemade, multicultural meal. Author Sarah Aronson (Just Like Rube Goldberg) offers an empathetic emotional arc for readers who might relate to changes in their family structure. Her presentation of a growing, global and interfaith family speaks to a broad audience, but her story is also culturally specific, highlighting Judaism and introducing the concept of machatunim, a Yiddish word for the relationship between in-laws. There is no English equivalent for the word, but the feelings connected are certainly universal. Illustrator Ariel Landy (Gitty and Kvetch) contributes cheerful characters with lively expressions through cartoonish artwork with soft lines and vibrant colors. The parallel relationship between Jillian's cat and Bubbe's dog adds a particularly humorous substory. Backmatter includes family resources and recipes for three soups. An adorably charismatic and accepting story honoring problem-solving and found families. - Shelf Awareness, starred review Jillian likes her new stepfather but isn't sure about her new grandmother. Bubbe, Yiddish for grandmother, is very loving, but Jillian does not appreciate this affection. She already has two grandmas-Gram and Noni-and a great-grandma. She doesn't need a person who gives lipstick-laden kisses and introduces new holidays and words (kvelling and kvetching) she doesn't understand. When her mom insists that Jillian give Bubbe a chance, Jillian, tan-skinned with brown hair, reluctantly agrees to join her brand-new grandmother as Bubbe prepares soup and teaches Jillian to make perfect matzah balls. After tasting the delicious concoction, Jillian plans a celebration for everyone: her mother, her stepfather, her father, and all her grandmothers (and her great-grandma). The three grandmas make their special soups and create a feast for everyone-a lovely way to bring a blended family together. Humorous, expressive illustrations track Jillian's many moods; the interactions between Bubbe's dog and her cat are especially funny. Filled with good tastes and intentions, the story will ring true where families have stayed friendly after divorce and remarriage. Jillian's family is a diverse one-Bubbe is Jewish, and the family members range in skin tone. Backmatter includes recipes for all three grannies' soups (Bubbe's matzah ball soup, Noni's Italian wedding soup, and Gram's gazpacho). (This book was reviewed digitally.) A winning reminder that though family might evolve, it's always anchored by love. -Kirkus Reviews When her mom remar ries, Jil lian gets a new step dad and a new bubbe. Since she already has a Noni and a Gram, Jil lian is not inter est ed in adding any one else new to her fam i ly. Bubbe can't seem to win Jillian's affec tions no mat ter what she tries. But when she brings over the ingre di ents to make mat zo ball soup, Jil lian can't resist. After slurp ing down a few bowls, she has an idea. Jil lian invites all three of her grand moth ers - plus her dad and her great-grand moth er -for a 'Super Soup Cel e bra tion.' Noni makes Ital ian meat ball soup, Gram makes gaz pa cho and of course, Bubbe makes mat zo ball soup. And, Jil lian quick ly real izes, 'Like soup, fam i ly was made with love. And there was always room for more.' The final page spread shows Jillian's preg nant moth er, and obser vant read ers will be delight ed to dis cov er an adorable new sib ling run ning across the end pages. Bright, col or ful, expres sive illus tra tions depict a fun-lov ing, con tem po rary, mul ti cul tur al, and inter faith blend ed fam i ly. And it's refresh ing to see three bicy cle-rid ing and bas ket ball-play ing grand moth ers: Bubbe with frizzy red hair and hip pur ple glass es; petite Gram in a styl ish head band, hik ing boots, and shorts; and tall, slen der Noni with a red beret and pearls. All three soup recipes, with detailed instruc tions, are append ed along with a list of resources for inter-faith and blend ed fam i lies. Sim i lar to Chick en Soup, Chick en Soup by Pamela May er, illus trat ed by Deb o rah Mel mon (Kar-Ben, 2016), and Tale of Two Seders by Mindy Avra Port noy, illus trat ed by Vale ria Cis (Kar-Ben, 2010), young read ers who can per son al ly relate to Jil lian will feel val i dat ed and seen, and all read ers will dis cov er that 'fam i ly is more than blood' and 'there is no one right way to blend a fam i ly.' As Aron son writes in her after ward: 'The only manda to ry ingre di ents for cel e brat ing your fam i ly are patience, humor, and of course, lots and lots of love!' -Rachel Kamin, Jewish Book Council

Author Information

Sarah Aronson is the author of Just Like Rube Goldberg, the middle grade series, The Wish List, and YA novels Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and Believe. She holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Ariel Landy is an educator and illustrator of books for children, including This is the Church and The Riddle of the Wild Dogs. Landy began writing and illustrating stories as soon as she could hold a pencil and she never stopped. She currently lives in France with her husband and their dog, Sid. https-//www.ariellandyart.com/books

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available