Review by Booklist Review
Supper time, that universal family minefield, forms the core of Cooper's third picture book featuring Cat, Squirrel, and todderlike Duck, characters originated in her Greenaway Medal-winning Pumpkin Soup (1999). In softly brushed paintings of a cozy, whimsical woodland household, parental stand-ins Cat and Squirrel lovingly create substitutes for Duck's out-of-season favorite, pumpkin soup. Kerfuffles, hullaballoos, and other creatively termed uproars ensue as Duck refuses each offering, until a flurry of kitchen creativity begets a soup that meets the persnickety bird's approval. More accurate, perhaps, than ideal, the suggestion that whiny, sulky stubbornness gets results is somewhat balanced by a clever secondary narrative, in which beetle observers scathingly comment on Duck's misdeeds ( What a way to behave! ). Still, this lively read-aloud may be best appreciated by families beyond the picky-eater phase, whose reformed members can giggle as they recollect their own tableside mutinies. A recipe for Pink Soup (made from beets) appears on an extrawide interior jacket flap.--Mattson, Jennifer Copyright 2007 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a starred review of Pumpkin Soup, PW praised author Helen Cooper's "uncanny ability to capture the dynamics of friendship." In Delicious! Cat, Squirrel and Duck are ready to make their world-famous pumpkin soup again. But when no ripe pumpkins can be found, stubborn Duck turns up his bill at the other soups his buddies concoct. Included on the inside cover is a recipe for "pink soup," made with beets. (FSG, $16 32p ages 4-8 ISBN 9780-374-31756-0; Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Cat, Duck, and Squirrel are back in this companion to Pumpkin Soup (1999) and A Pipkin of Pepper (2005, both Farrar). Disaster has struck the pumpkin patch-no ripe pumpkins for the animals' favorite dish. The friends decide to make something new to eat, but Duck is unwilling to try either fish soup, mushroom soup, or beet soup (especially offensive because it is pink). Cat tries to trick Duck by mixing a combination of veggies and ingredients that result in a broth that is the exact color of pumpkin soup. After a tentative sip, Duck declares it "Delicious!" and order is restored in the old white cabin. The story has universal appeal-everyone either knows, or is, a fussy eater. Readers will empathize with Duck, who is obstinate without being intolerable, and cheer for Cat and Squirrel as their patience and accommodation lead to eventual success. The illustrations are warm and rustic, and the layout does an excellent job of mixing full-page portraits and white space. A recipe for "Pink Soup" is included. This beautiful book is a must-have.-Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Cat, Duck and Squirrel from Pumpkin Soup (1999) and A Pipkin of Pepper (2005), return in another culinary adventure. Without a ripe pumpkin in their garden to make soup, they try recipes for Fish Soup, Mushroom Soup and Beet Soup, but when Duck sniffs each one, he howls, "YUCK! All I want is Pumpkin Soup . . . and that's not orange!" While the other two are taking a bath, Cat has a plan; he peels, chops and slices zucchini, tomatoes, carrots and corn and plops them into the cooking pot. When Duck peers into the pot, he says, "That looks like Pumpkin Soup." He sips and quacks, "This isn't Pumpkin Soup . . . but it's the best soup I ever tasted. Let's eat the whole pot!" Entertaining detailed illustrations, interesting page composition with sidebars of charming insects commenting on the action and rhyming phrases maintain the playfulness of characters and the childlike behavior. Preschoolers will enjoy the story while subtly ingesting the message of trying new foods. Recipe for Pink Soup included. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
