Paul's Sweet Shop

Step inside Paul's Sweet Shop, a lively neighborhood store on Newman Street in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1953.

Paul and Lillian Rothman's little shop sells ice cream, toys, newspapers, penny candy, and everyday necessities, but it is much more than a place to buy things. It is where neighbors gather, children arrive clutching nickels and dimes, and customers share their news across the counter.

During one busy summer week, readers will watch deliveries arrive, meet Paul and Lillian's young son, Stanley, follow a funny kite adventure, and discover how an exciting trip to a baseball game becomes a family story that Paul and Stanley will never forget.

Based on real people, family memories, and a real store, Paul's Sweet Shop offers young readers a warm and engaging look at everyday life in the 1950s-a time before cell phones, supermarkets, and online shopping, when the neighborhood corner store could feel like the center of the world.

Perfect for readers ages 9-12 who enjoy family stories, local history, and discovering what life was like long ago.