Too Many Babas

My children loved this book so much when they were little that we actually wore out the book. It's a good little lesson in cooperation.

In this funny story, Baba Edis woke up one morning in her cabin and it was freezing cold. So she wants to warm her bones by making soup. After she finds a bone, she adds beans, carrots, celery cabbage, and an onion for flavor. Her friends Baba Basha, Baba Yetta and Baba Molka invite themselves to have a bowl. While the soup is cooking they each taste it. Baba Basha feels the soup needs salt and adds a fistful of it. Baba Yetta thinks the soup needs more pepper and gives the pepper grinder too many turns. Baba Molka adds an entire bulb of garlic to the soup. The soup is ruined and has to be remade at dinnertime. Baba Edis Cried about it after the soup had to be thrown out. But all four ladies learned that too many cooks without a plan can spoil the broth.

What a wonderful little tale! I actually read this in a second grade basal reader. My class loved it and so did I. I felt like I knew the four ladies that ruined soup together (or maybe I wished I knew them.) The characters were lovable and the story was very appealing as well. I think any child would love this book.