Big Dreams, Small Fish

Sydney Taylor Honor Book

In the new country, Shirley and her family all have big dreams. Take the family store: Shirley has great ideas about how to make it more modern! Prettier! More profitable! She even thinks she can sell the one specialty no one seems to want to try: Mama's homemade gefilte fish.

But her parents think she's too young to help. And anyway they didn't come to America for their little girl to work. "Go play with the cat!" they urge.

This doesn't stop Shirley's ideas, of course. And one day, when the rest of the family has to rush out leaving her in the store with sleepy Mrs. Gottlieb...Shirley seizes her chance!

P R A I S E

"Charming. Paula Cohen tells an all-American tale of the Yiddish diaspora."
--TheWall Street Journal

"Timeless: an indomitable protagonist and the loving family who dotes on her."
--Publishers Weekly

"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

"An affectionate ode to family, fish, and creative problem solving."
--BookPage

Author: Paula Cohen
Publisher: Levine Querido
Published: 03/01/2022
Pages: 1
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 11.20h x 9.30w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781646141265
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 2.3
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 522011 / Big Dreams, Small Fish


Award: Sydney Taylor Book Award - Silver Medal Winner


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 01/10/2022
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2022
Shelf Awareness 03/08/2022
Booklist 03/15/2022 pg. 76
Kirkus Reviews 05/15/2022
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2022 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
Paula Cohen (1964-2022) grew up in Albany, NY where her grandparents owned a small family grocery store in an immigrant neighborhood. Her family treasured books, music, and the Yiddish language (which sadly she never learned). Her grandmother made amazing kugels and gefilte fish and luckily Paula learned to make both. Paula lived in a ramshackle 1920's home in NJ with her family and mini schnauzer. Big Dreams, Small Fish was her debut picture book.