The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

The Incredible Shrinking Lunchroom by Michal Babay, illustrated by Paula Cohen Charlesbridge, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Shirley Reva Vernick Buy at Bookshop.org The Incredible Shrinking Lunchroom is a hilarious contemporary retelling of the Yiddish folktale popularized by Margot Zemach’s 1977 book, It Could Always Be Worse . In Babay’s story, the students at Parley Elementary tell their principal, Mrs. Mensch, that the cafeteria is too noisy and crowded. Mrs. M. responds by moving more and more things into the lunchroom – things like science projects, classroom pets, and school sports teams. When the situation reaches peak chaos, the principal finally returns the cafeteria to its original state. The students are now thrilled with their suddenly roomy and quiet lunchroom. The end note summarizes the original Yiddish folktale and explains the story's importance to the author. The Incredible Shrinking Lunchroom is a warm, smart, and funny demonstration of the importance...

Big Dreams, Small Fish written and illustrated by Paula Cohen Levine Querido, 2022 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Sarah Aronson Buy at Bookshop.org In Paula Cohen’s Big Dreams, Small Fish , Shirley and her family have big dreams for their new family store. The problem is: all the adults think Shirley is too young to work. They think she should spend her time playing. But Shirley is full of big ideas, and when her family leaves her and Mrs. Gottlieb to mind the store, she includes a free sample of gefilte fish with every purchase. Her parents are upset until the next morning, when members of their ethnically inclusive neighborhood line up to buy more of the new neighborhood delicacy. I loved this picture book. Shirley is plucky and resourceful. She doesn’t accept that she is too young to work at the family store. When she seizes the moment and gets to work in the store, I turned pages to see how she would sell that fish! This girl doesn’t just have big dreams. She has great ideas! (A...