Ellie's Deli

Ellie's family owns the town deli. Its official name is Lukshen Deli, but everybody calls it Ellie's Deli. When a restaurant group threatens to move in and take over, tenacious Ellie and her BFFs must prove that matzo ball soup and sour pickles are here to stay, in this adorable new middle grade fiction series with recipes and illustrations throughout. When Ellie accidentally overhears that her family deli is most likely going to close, she does the only thing she can think of. She makes a wish on matzo ball soup. Eleven-year-old Ellie is feisty, determined, and a little bit anxious. She considers Lukshen Deli part of the family-after all, it's been around for four generations, ever since her great-grandmother opened it. Along with her BFF, Ava; her sisters, Anna and Mabel; her lunch buddies, Aanya, Brynn, Nina, and Sally; and her grandparents, Bubbie and Zeyda, Ellie is determined to prove that old fashioned Jewish delis can get with the times-but if her plan doesn't work, the deli will be sold for good. Ellie's Deli: Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup contains over 30 charming black-and-white illustrations and 14 recipes for quintessential Jewish American deli food, like challah, chicken soup, blintz souffle, and ruggelach. It's a delightful story about sticking up for what you believe in, business ownership, friendship, and family.

From Lisa Greenwald, the beloved author of the “TBH and Friendship List” series, and award-winning illustrator Galia Bernstein, comes “Ellie'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 teens with 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 more annoying 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.