Bring Back the Babka!

Marilyn Wolpin isn't much of a baker, but she's been known to enjoy a thick slice of chocolate babka. Born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey, Marilyn was surrounded by attentive Jewish mothers, grandmothers, and aunts who ladled out love and advice in heaping bowlfuls. After a long career in publishing and market research, Marilyn retired to write books for children. Madison Safer is an illustrator who is happiest in a forest full of mushrooms. Her work is often centered around themes of nostalgia, home and the quiet woods of New England. She is inspired by Russian folk art, Jewish paper cuttings, quilt patterns, and the warmth of a fire after a very cold day. She received her BFA in illustration studies from Montserrat College of Art and currently resides in the sleepy hills of Western Massachusetts. When she is not napping or drawing, Madison is best found drinking tea, practicing her challah braid or stealing flowers.