Ellie's Deli: In a Pickle!

From Lisa Greenwald, the beloved author of the TBH and Friendship List series, and award-winning illustrator Galia Bernstein, comesEllie's Deli: In a Pickle,the sequel to Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup!After saving her family's deli from going out of business, 11-year-old Ellie is ready to embark on her next mission-plan her friend's Bat Mitzvah party-in this illustrated chapter book for young teenswith 14 recipes inside. When her BFF's cousin Charlie announces that her Bat Mitzvah venue closed and now she's probably not going to have a Bat Mitzvah party, tenacious 11-year-old Ellie takes it upon herself to be a party planner. In fact, the whole idea inspires her to be a party planner when she grows up. How fun would that be?! But party-planning isn't all fun and games-Ellie also has to navigate her changing middle school friendship dynamic, get good grades in school, and help renovate her family's deli's attic into a swanky event space. Ellie thinks she can handle everything, but soon feels like she's, well, in a pickle. With the help of some reinforcements, like her Bubbie's best friend, Gloria the event planner; her school advisor, Ms. Sinitz; maybe even her super annoying big sister, Anna; and her even moreannoying little sister, Mabel; Ellie might just put a lid on this situation after all. Ellie's Deli: In a Pickle! contains 40 black-and-white illustrations and 14 recipes for scrumptious foods like chocolate-covered macaroons, baked salmon, and potato curry. It's a relatable and heartwarming story that's all about friendship, family, and learning when to ask for help. "... 11-year-oldEllieGlantz loves her family's kosherdelialmost as much as she loves her grandparents Bubbie and Zeyda....[R]eligious practices and Yiddish words suffuse the story with a lived-in Judaism-unrelated to a specific holiday-that does not often appear in mainstream children's books. In buoyant middle-grade fashion,Ellieand [her best friend] Ava join forces to rally the community and update the business in an effort to save thedeli....A cute and concretely Jewish take on a classic storyline. (Kirkus Reviews for Ellie's Deli: Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup!) "A fun story with believable characters and solvable problems, this easy-to-read, middle-grade book will hold the reader's interest and provide excellent, humorous entertainment along the way. (Michael Hoschander Malen, Jewish Book Council forEllie's Deli: Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup!)