Big Dreams, Small Fish - front cover. Published by Levine Querido.
After reading Paula Cohen’s debut picture book, Big Dreams, Small Fish, I closed it and my first thought - I love it! It’s beautifully illustrated by Paula and between the almost animation-movie-style drawings and sweet story, this book is super cute and lovely. I mean that fully and not in the “bless your heart” sort of way.
“Shirley’s family had big dreams for their new store in their new neighborhood.”
Yes, they did! One of their big dreams is to sell their small fish - gefilte fish. I know, stick with me here, I’ve heard all the “yuck” stories about this notorious fish. Paula, or really Shirley, may have you think otherwise…like me.
Shirley is your confident child. She knows what her family wants, she fully believes in gefilte fish, and she knows how she can get the neighborhood customers to love it just as much as she does.
She tries creating her own advertisements and even gets the cat involved. Nothing works, but also her family thinks she’s too little to help and in the way. Until one day, they have no choice but to trust her.
“‘Mrs. Gottlieb is here’, said Uncle Morris, ‘And Shirley can help.’”
I include the quote above because the illustration for this spread and the next two made me laugh aloud. I don’t know who Mrs. Gottlieb is, but she’s in the store and is basically used as a prop by Shirley! It’s probably my favorite part of the whole book.
Shirley is left to man the store and she has a big idea. A big, wonderful, great idea! When you read this book make sure you read the illustrations as well because they keep the story going. Without giving Shirley’s idea away, I’ll just say that she manages to get each customer to leave with gefilte fish. Her family is so proud!
“‘The gefilte fish is gone! Shirley sold ALL of it!’ said Mama.”
However, the small fish wasn’t exactly sold and there are consequences for Shirley. The next morning arrives and brings redemption for Shirley - all the customers from yesterday are back again today! For more gefilte fish! Overnight, Shirley has become an entrepreneur and her family gifts her an apron with her name on it and her very own sign, “Try Shirley’s Gefilte Fish!”
The backmatter in Paula’s book is just as good as the story. Throughout the story there are Yiddish words and she teaches us how to pronounce the words and what they mean. She also provides some background into the language of Yiddish. There is also history and a recipe for gefilte fish! I haven’t tried it yet, but I am curious. Paula says that homemade is more delicious than store bought.
I typically love all books that revolve around food, family and food, and food bringing others together. I’m a big fan of gatherings. Paula Cohen’s book did not disappoint and points to all those things. To read the backmatter and know that Shirley’s family is speaking Yiddish, opening a store, and the illustrations take us back to a past time one can imply that they are an immigrant family. It takes courage to start and open a business especially when it’s not in your home country. Then to sell an item that is so dear, yet common to you - that shows strength. When that item then becomes enjoyed by others - well, that is so precious, heartwarming.
Rising children’s author-illustrator Paula Cohen, whose debut solo picture book Big Dreams, Small Fish (Levine Querido) was published on March 1, 2022, died suddenly on February 24, 2022, at her home in Fanwood, N.J. She was 57.