Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-Before his appetite was whetted by the taste of a tofu dog, the picky eater in this picture book subsisted on meals of macaroni. The boy narrates his gradual transformation in a humorous story that uses 31 idioms related to food. "Use your noodle!" his mom says, "People need three square meals a day." His dad, the couch potato, warns him his goose will be cooked if he lives on macaroni, and his sister, who eats like a horse, says things to him that he needs to take with a grain of salt. Mixed-media illustrations-color photographs and black pen-and-ink drawings-and the long-nosed dog add to the humor and playfulness of this story. By the end of the book, feelings of frustration are replaced with feelings of pride. Mom is pleased as punch that her son has realized that variety is the spice of life. Combine this book with Michael Wright's Jake Goes Peanuts (Feiwel & Friends, 2010) or Jackie French's Too Many Pears (Star Bright Books, 2003) for having fun with language.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada (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 Horn Book Review
Bloch uses over two dozen food-related expressions in this entertaining, if contrived, story about a boy who learns to be a more adventurous eater. ("My mother says it drives her bananas to see me eat like a bird.") Cleverly combining photographs with pen-and-ink drawings, the quirky art provides a comically literal illustration for each figure of speech. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Food-related idioms are imagined literally when a picky eater rejects his family's attempts to broaden his horizons. "Dad said that my goose would be cooked if I ate macaroni for every meal." He finally partakes of tofu dogs with his friend's enthusiastic endorsement and subsequently learns the joy of healthy eating. Figures of speech strung together form this loosely spun narrative, which occasionally results in rather un-kidlike dialogue: "Oliver told me I was as nutty as a fruitcake if I didn't love his mother's cooking." Crisp photographs combine with nimble pen-and-ink sketches to provide a literal interpretation for each figurative expression, whether the child must eat [his] words or grows tail feathers when his sister asks if he chickened out. Splashes of glossy color pop dramatically against all-white backgrounds, and the child's needle-nosed dog provides an engaging sidekick and extra visual interest. There may not be a lot of food for thought in this offbeat offering, but the child's journey into nutritious eating proves a deliciously funny ride. (Picture book. 6-9) ]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
