Big Dreams, Small Fish

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Big Dreams, Small Fish) through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated.

Imagine that you are little.  Just a child in your family.  Easily shunted aside because the adults have to do the work.  Now suppose your family has a business, and… it’s not doing as well as you had hoped.  Now what do you do?  And then a family emergency arises .. NOW, What will you DO?!?!?!?!  Ah, I know, call in the neighbour lady.  She’ll mind the store, the family business, and she’ll mind the child too!  All good, worry about the store later.  Deal with family first.  And therein lies the start of Big Dreams, Small Fish.  Come on, this story will make your heart smile.

Big Dreams, Small Fish in a nutshell

Paula Cohen brings us a touching immigrant story with Big Dreams, Small Fish.  A small family with a grocery trying to make things work and care for family at the same time.  What does one small child know that could help?  You’ll have to read to find out of course!  🙂 

Published by Levine Querido this preschool picture book is geared for children 4-8 years old.  Featuring a Jewish family living in a multicultural neighbourhood.   I received a 40-page hardcover book with a dustcover.  It is a standard picture book size. 🙂 

Reviewed on behalf of Raincoast Books. 

Looking More Closely

I love the pictures! 

That cat staring at the fish…. it’s so spot on!  And Shirley’s willingness to help… that sly little smile.  She knows her plan will work! 

The images often span a two-page spread, like an invitation to join in on a family going about their lives.  With a colour palette that suits the family and the various characters you run across.  People from all across the world fill the pages, it’s rather neat to see.  

Such a problem for this family.  Wanting so hard to pass along part of their heritage to the people around them.  Knowing it will be liked, but getting people to try, it’s just so very hard to do.   In the process, pick up some Jewish terminology as you go through.  It’s fun to learn new languages no? 

Part of me wants to quibble about the font, but as I look at the book as a whole it fits.  A big bold font doesn’t suit the temperament of this family-focused read. I would love it to be a tad bit bigger simply because I have older eyes and imagine reading to a group of children.  But sitting down with a child at my side, the font is perfect. 

Should it be on your shelves?

While I do get tired sometimes of girls, in various stories, being the heroes lately, Shirley fits this story.  A young lady, with her cat, trying to help her family.  You can just see her getting underfoot and trying different ideas, albeit unsuccessfully.  Her heart is on helping, on serving her family.  I love that.  Her never-give-up attitude of let’s try this, and let’s try that.  It’s very good. 

I love that at the close of the book we are invited to make our own gefilte fish.  Then we too can have Big Dreams, Small Fish!!!  A heart-warming story that showcases persistence and serving your family as best you can.