This picture book is adorable and fits so well with our modern families (blended, reconstituted, and with so many different origins). I love the content and the idea that there is always more room for love in a family, and that varying traditions can blend together into a beautiful whole. Very sweet and bright and colorful- it would make a great addition to a family library and my synagogue library as well.

Something I never imagine before is recomposed family. When your parents separate and one of them remarried, you will have a new family. In Jillian's case, a new grandma. And a new family member is not as easy as it seems. This book told the story of love, and how you can always love another members of your new family. Maybe a little bit of a fantasy, having new members that love you unconditionally, but we have to give them a chance.

A story about family and acceptance told in a [mostly] lighthearted way. I don’t really care for the behavior at the beginning of the book, though I appreciate the message she was trying to portray. I really like that recipes were included.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This is about a little girl who has a new grandmother to go with her other two, and she is not very happy about it and doesn't know how to react. Fun soup recipes at the end of the book.

What do you do when a new grandparent comes into your life? Jillian likes her new stepdad, but he comes with his mother--Bubbe. As far as Jillian is concerned, she already has the requisite number of grandmothers, Gram and Noni and neither needs nor wants Bubbe in her life. Bubbe tries to connect with Jillian and finally wins her over when all three grandmothers come over to Jillian's house where each makes her favorite soup!

Includes recipes for Matzo Ball Soup, Italian Wedding Soup, and Gazpacho.

I'd recommend this book for anyone with children from pre-school through Grade 2, but especially for those who have a blended family. Five Stars!

A celebration of all the love a family can give, in whatever form family shows itself. I loved this book so much - grandmothers are so special and kids with "non-traditional" families will see that the more family they have just adds to more love and more wonderful things to learn and experience.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Brand-New Bubbe is a really cute story about family and acceptance. The girl in the story is pleased her mum has met someone new after separating from her dad, but doesn't understand why she needs another grandmother (Bubbe) when she already has two. Mum chats to her and tells her to give her new Bubbe a chance. Reluctantly the girl does and they end up bonding over Bubbes soup along with her other two Bubbes and her great grandmother too!
This is a great book for children with found families and to teach all children about how different and unique all families are.

This is such a sweet book about bonus grandparents, remaking of families and learning to open your heart to new people who may just make your life happier, even if you don't think you need it. Jillians Mother remarries and she finds herself with a new person in her life in the form of her step parents mother, who asks to be called Bubbe. Through kindness, patience and bonding Jillian learns there is always room in your heart for new family & love. A great book to read with kids, especially those that may be blended families or have the potential to be future blended families. Such a lovely story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5 stars

Jillian’s mom gets remarried, and her new stepdad comes with a brand-new (to her) grandma. And Jillian isn’t impressed. She’s already got two grandmas, and doesn’t see why she needs another one. But her new grandma, Bubbe, works hard to win her over. With a (not so gentle) nudge from her mom and stepdad, she agrees to give Bubbe a chance. Jillian feels a bit guilty though, because she worries that loving her new grandma will make her other grandmas feel left out. So she comes up with a plan to bring her whole family together. What could go wrong?

My little review gave this five (really really big) stars and I give it 4 1/2. The book is not only beautifully illustrated, it’s got a wonderful story that is so great for helping kids embrace blended families, and teaching all children that learning to love someone new doesn’t mean the people you already love will be loved less. It’s a delightfully multi-cultural book with three very different and fun grandmas, and I love that Sarah Aronson used the word “kvetch” in a kid’s book.

As an added bonus, the author includes three recipes that are mentioned in the book in the back. We didn’t make any of them but I get hungry every time I read the book!

I was provided an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks to the publisher and the author for providing it to me.

Brand-New Bubbe by Sarah Aronson tells the story of a young girl named Jillian who has a new step dad as well as a new Bubbe. Jillian seems happy with her step dad; however, she is not happy about having a new grandmother. She already has two grandmothers and doesn’t see the need for a third. Jillian decides she will protest having a new grandmother. Her mom explained to Jillian that family is more than blood. Jillian eventually spends time with Bubbe by making matzo ball soup together and discovers she likes Bubbe. This leads to Jillian being concerned that her other grandmothers will feel left out or like they had been replaced by a new grandmother. So she invites all three grandmothers to a Super Soup Celebration. The grandmothers all have a lovely time together making soups. Jillian decides that like soup, families are made with love and that there is always room for more. The back of the book has recipes for all of the grandmothers’ soups.

This is a cute story about how to blend families. I like that the focus was on grandparents because there are already books on accepting step parents and step siblings. This would be perfect to share with children when they are going to be introduced to a new grandparent.

When Jillian's mom marries Michael, she gets a brand-new Bubbe who she's not so sure about. I love how this book dealt with combined families. It's not always easy to accept change and a bunch of new people who are suddenly in your life. Jillian's concerns felt valid, and her reactions realistic. I especially appreciated that it was clear her problem-causing came from concern for the other grandparents in her life. Bubbe's patience and love is just heart-warming as she gives room for Jillian to work through her feelings, and doesn't let Jillian's actions affect the love she's always giving.

A wonderful story that gently reminds what family is, and how we contribute to make them a place of love and acceptance.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for the ARC!

This picture book is so lovely!

Jillian's mum remarries and she gets an entire new grandparent "call me Bubbe".
In this book, Jillian is determined to not like Bubbe, or to even get to know her, despite all of Bubbe's attempts to do so.
Jillian already has a Noni and a Gram - she doesn't want (or need) another grandparent.

But eventually, with the help of some extremely delicious soup, Jillian warms up to her.

This book is going to be a great resource for younger children whose parents may get remarried. It shows just how hard it can be to fit into a new family mould, and I especially loved Jillian's mum saying "Family is more than blood". Because it is!

This was just all kinds of wonderful and I ADORED the illustrations - they were fun, vibrant, and captivating.

An easy 5/5 stars from me.

What do you do when you already have two grandmothers, but a third one is in your life right now? This is the problem Jillian faces when her stepdad becomes part of the family…now she has his mother, aka Bubbe, to deal with. Things become uncomfortable fast. Is there a solution for this disharmony? I haven’t come across a book like this with such a family dynamic, and overall it’s a cute story. I read this via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

What an adorable book with a reminder for everyone-family is more than blood. I loved that it showcases different nationalities and that we can all get along with some effort. Jillian's personality shows through with the words and illustrations of how hard it is to accept new people into our family and Bubbe's personality was so easy to love. This is such a cute book to share with elementary school children.

Jillian's family is growing by two - a new stepfather and bubbe (grandmother). Jillian doesn't want another grandma as she already has two!
Food can bring us all together and that's exactly what happens in this sweet and heartfelt book. A great way to introduce and explain to younger children about the ways families can change and grow.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Brand-New Bubbe is the perfect recipe for a humorous, fun filled picture book.

Jillian has Noni and Gran. She doesn't need another grandmother and definitely not one that leave trails of red lipstick kisses on her face. NO! There is no room for matzo ball soup making Bubbe. But that all changes when Jillian's mom demands she spend time with Bubbe. Now Jillian has to figure out how to bring all of her grandmothers together and show them that she has plenty of love to go around.

Make room on your classroom bookshelves for Bubbe and Jillian. A brand new book about blended families and cooking. Perfect for our Pre-K to second grade classrooms with themes related to blended families, kindness, cooking, and problem solving.
BONUS....you even get three delicious recipes.

Brand-New Bubbe by Sarah Aronson

I like this. We all know that food brings people together. In this story, soup brings families together perfectly.
I think “Brand-New Bubbe” will be a perfect addition to the blended library of a blended family. Classrooms could read this story in a unit of family life.

There are many reasons a child will have more than the traditional two grandmas. Change can be uncomfortable in the beginning. This lovely story helps children realize that when a family is blessed with extra grandmas, there’s plenty of love to go around. The lovely illustrations and the 3 soup recipes are a tasty addition.

Thank you Netgalley and Charlesbridge for the digital advanced reading copy of this book.

"Brand-New Bubbe" is a really sweet story about introducing new family members and mixed families. The book validates the main character's feelings of fear, anger, and confusion in adapting to her new "Bubbe" while showing how rewarding it is to embrace and love new family dynamics.

Excellent picture book exploring blended families with different traditions and the complicated feelings that arise when meeting new family. There is a resource guide at the end of the book along with recipes from the cultures celebrated in the book. Even if the reader doesn't identify with the Italian, Hispanic, or Jewish heritage the universal story of blended families will appeal to preschoolers who are coping with big feelings.

A much needed addition to bookshelves to help kids work through the emotions of divorce and stepfamilies as well as balancing different cultural traditions within the family. A definite addition to library shelves.

Jillian has a new step-father and now there is Bubbe! She already has two wonderful grandmothers and doesn't think there is room in her family or her heart for another one. Jillian's mom wants her to try. Bubbe show her how to cook Matzo Ball soup and convinces her that a Bubbe is a good thing. But how does she convince her other grandmothers? Jillian invites all of the grandmothers to a cooking date and the family bonds over three wonderful soup recipes that the author shares. The art work is bright and cheerful and no one can resist the cover of the book! Jillian faces the problem of new family ties and the author gives a wonderful example of sharing family time in the kitchen.