Publishers Weekly
01/10/2022
Shirley and her white Jewish family have opened up “a new store in a new neighborhood,” and life seems pretty good, except in two respects: no one is buying the homemade gefilte fish (“No one would even TRY it”), and Shirley’s parents think she’s too young to help them solve this vexing business problem (“We didn’t come to this country for you to solve problems,” says her father). But Shirley is full of big ideas, and when she’s left to mind the store, she includes a free sample of gefilte fish with every purchase. Her parents are appalled—but the next morning, the digitally colored pencil drawings show an ethnically inclusive line around the block of people eager to buy “the new neighborhood delicacy.” This Yiddish-punctuated slice-of-life story, Cohen’s picture book debut, wears its nostalgia lightly; the narrator’s voice is as crisp as the illustrations’ black outlines, set in an unspecified era that appears to be the 1930s or ’40s. What really matters here is timeless: an indomitable protagonist and the loving family who dotes on her. Back matter includes a glossary of Yiddish words and a gefilte fish recipe. Ages 4–8. Agent: Christy Ewers, CAT Agency. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"A take-charge, spunky girl character, Shirley jumps off the page with personality. Her Yiddish speaking relatives are also authentically depicted in this sweet tale. The charm of the story is enhanced by the digitally colored pencil sketches." — Association of Jewish Libraries
“It’s a cute story with a happy ending, and comes with a short glossary of the Yiddish terms used in the book, as well as an explanation about gefilte fish and even a recipe for you to make your own!” —Geek Dad
“Paula Cohen tells an all-American tale of the Yiddish diaspora in “Big Dreams, Small Fish,” a charming picture book for 4- to 8-year-olds.” — Wall Street Journal
“Writer and illustrator Paula Cohen succeeds in this beautifully illustrated story about an enterprising little girl who determines to save her family’s shop by promoting this dish to non-Jewish customers. Cohen deftly avoids a preachy tone, while conveying how people of different backgrounds are both alike and different. She also sends the message to young readers that they can make a difference, even when adults are skeptical of a child’s ability to change the course of events.” — Jewish Book Council
“Beautifully illustrated….Shirley is one smart child, a real asset to her striving family. She is full of innovative ideas, which are depicted by Cohen with both humor and respect”—Jewish Book Network
“A joyfully Jewish yet also marvelously universal tale of a little girl who knows she can make a difference for her family’s store… if only she gets the chance” — Joy Preble, Brazos Bookstore
“An affectionate ode to family, fish, and creative problem solving.”—BookPage
"“This Yiddish-punctuated slice-of-life story, Cohen’s picture book debut, wears its nostalgia lightly; the narrator’s voice is as crisp as the illustrations’ black outlines… What really matters here is timeless: an indomitable protagonist and the loving family who dotes on her.” —Publishers Weekly, "
Kirkus Reviews
2022-04-27
A little fish gets a big break!
Shirley’s immigrant family comes to the United States and opens a new store. However, there is a problem: They cannot sell the gefilte fish, a family specialty, to the customers in their store’s neighborhood. Pretty soon the stuffed fish dish piles up, and Shirley’s parents lament that they might be eating it forever if they cannot sell some soon. Shirley takes it upon herself to try her best to move gefilte-units. Even though Mama says she is too little to help, one day, when the other adults are busy, Shirley gets the opportunity to step in—and, with a very creative solution, she saves the day. After all, it’s Shirley’s store, too. The story, which appears to take place around the turn of the 19th century, is a whole family undertaking, with Jewish food and culture at the center. Illustrations, created with pencil sketches that were overdrawn and digitally colored, use plenty of white space, and a sense of warmth pervades the narrative. Yiddish words—like farmisht and keppele—dot the pages and are listed in a helpful glossary that explains that Yiddish was spoken by many Eastern European Jews. Shirley and her family are light-skinned; theirs is a diverse community. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Young readers will enjoy this glimpse of Jewish immigrant life. (recipe for gefilte fish) (Picture book. 5-10)
