Review: Bavajadas! That's Just Silly!

Bavajadas! That's Just Silly!

by Sarah Aroeste, illustrated by Annabel Tempest

PJ Publishing, 2025

Category: Board Books

Reviewer: Lauren Kasiarz

 

With rhyming questions that are increasingly silly and implausible, this board book is a laugh-out-loud introduction for the youngest readers to Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish. Author Sarah Aroeste has coupled these questions with the refrain of “Bavajadas! That’s just silly!” which enhances the interactive read-aloud quality of this story. Illustrator Annabel Tempest then matches the lightheartedness of the text with brightly colored and cartoonish illustrations.

With a note on the back of the book, Jews everywhere will benefit from an introduction to Ladino and the Sephardic Jewish community, as well as other languages and dialects that have developed in Jewish communities around the world. At the bottom of the note, there is also a link that readers can follow to find music by author Sarah Aroeste in Ladino.

Though the joy of this rhyming board book will resonate with Jewish and non-Jewish communities alike, the refrain in Ladino and reference to challah (or in Ladino, halá!) make Bavajadas! That’s Just Silly! best suited for Jewish audiences. 

 

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Reviewer Lauren Kasiarz is a writer who celebrates diverse representation in Jewish kidlit on her Instagram page @diversejewishbooks. She’s been published in Kveller, is a #PBParty 2025 Finalist, and was selected to participate in the PJ Library Picture Book Summer Camp at the Highlights Foundation.