Fisher Family Beach Project

Description: Golda and Ezra are ready to beat their friends in a sandcastle-building competition on the beach. But when they get to the beach, it's a mess, and they'll have to come up with a different plan for a beach day.

Brief description: Hollie Michaels grew up in South Florida. She has lived in Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and London. Hollie works as an author, illustrator, theater teacher, and playwright. Many of her plays have been produced on stage. Her play Children of Hooverville is continually performed by middle school students around the country. Hollie lives in Connecticut with her husband, two kids, one corgi named Benny and two cats--Oberon and Puck.

Review Quotes: Golda Gene Fisher--GG for short--lives with her stepbrother Ezra and their parents: Ima, their multilingual mom, and Aba, their band-teacher dad. Together, GG and Ezra take on various community-focused projects, from cooking dinner for the senior center to organizing a beach cleanup after noticing litter. They step in for a performance when the real actors fall ill and find a way to cheer up Ezra after he's embarrassed by an injury. The large font and well-spaced text make for an easy, engaging read without sacrificing character. Bright, colorful illustrations dominate most pages, making this a great choice for readers transitioning to chapter books. Jewish themes are subtly woven throughout, with a glossary of terms and discussion questions included at the end of each title. VERDICT A heartwarming, community-focused read that's perfect for young chapter book readers and offers a gentle introduction to ­Jewish culture.-- "School Library Journal"