Review by Booklist Review
Kids, meet Mr. Caper, a tiny pickled sourpuss, who lives in a jar in your fridge and is never eaten by children. Lollipop, of course, needs no introduction. Though Mr. Caper is prized by adults, he longs for the appreciation of the younger connoisseurs that Lollipop enjoys, so he disguises himself as a harmless pea and breaks into the gothic Lollipop Factory, where he pours a caper solution into the vats of lollipop batter. But instead of turning children into overnight caper fanatics, they became as bitter and sour as Mr. Caper tasted. Green-hued and zombified, these young malcontents drive their parents nuts with misbehavior until kindly Lollipop suggests to Mr. Caper a sensible solution. Krall's bright, angular Photoshop illustrations have a Ren & Stimpy pop zeal, particularly when rendering Mr. Caper's steaming, Grinch-like rage or the demented glee of kids inhaling candy. In fact, the whole package is wonderfully manic, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a kid who won't cackle right along with it.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Kids know all too well that grownups like to eat disgusting things. Case in point: capers. Krall (Oh, Nuts!) gives this homely, briny seasoning a tortured inner life (readers may be reminded of Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants), imagining that the adulation of adults, who prize his "acidic earthiness" is like ashes in Mr. Caper's mouth. What he wants is what the unflaggingly good-natured Lollipop has: the adoration of children. A plot involving Mr. Caper's sabotage of the world's lollipop supply ensues (and, of course, goes horribly wrong), and Mr. Caper learns an important lesson about the rewards of being an acquired taste. "Sure, those kids love me now," says Lollipop, "but when they grow up, guess who they're going to be crazy about? You!" Krall's background in animation (he's worked on several Cartoon Network classics) once again serves him well: the pages fly by, fueled by precocious, melodramatic dialogue ("There must be a way to make the children appreciate my complex flavor!") and cheerily frenetic drawings. It's the perfect after-dinner read for Food Network-loving families. Ages 4-8. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Being earthy and acidic feels like a curse to Mr. Caper, whose sophisticated flavor appeals only to adults. Kids can't stand him, and he is insanely jealous of Lollipop, wishing that he could take his red rival's place. After Mr. Caper sneaks into the lollipop factory and tampers with the liquid in the vats, green, caper-flavored lollipops emerge, ready for consumption. But the world turns topsy-turvy when children taste the new sour treat and become sourpusses themselves. Now even grown-ups despise Mr. Caper, and it takes the sweet red lollipop to set the world right once more. Remorseful Mr. Caper is forgiven, and, more importantly, he comes to accept that his own unique flavor is perfectly fine. Krall's self-acceptance lesson is delightfully easy to swallow. This hilarious and highly original tale is enhanced by laugh-out-loud Photoshop cartoon illustrations and clever, punchy dialogue. Guaranteed to please a variety of tastes and an undeniably sweet treat for the picture-book shelves.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT (c) Copyright 2013. 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
A "tiny pickled sourpuss" caper is so jealous of Lollipop's popularity with kids that he sneaks into a factory and contaminates the "lollipop batter" ("Then all the children of the world will learn to LOVE ME!!!!"). This hilarious story has the pacing of a comic book, the look of top-notch animation cels, and not a hint of preachiness. (c) Copyright 2013. 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
As some ingredients have more flavor before cooking, this edible protagonist has more flavor before he learns his lesson. The punny title's "caper" is a brined flower bud, the kind that lands on plates for eating--well, eating by some people. "[A] caper is a tiny pickled sourpuss, who lives in a jar in your fridge and is never eaten by children." Adults effuse, "Ciao, Mr. Caper, delicioso!!!" and, "Ya Meester Caper, ve luv you!!!" But the grouchy caper seethes with jealousy of a tall red lollipop who's desired by children. So Mr. Caper executes a caper--he sneaks into a factory and pours a beaker of green liquid--caper flavoring--into vats of lollipop batter in order to make unwitting children "appreciate my complex flavor." Worldwide, children lick green lollies, turn green with nausea and start "acting in the most appalling ways." They upend trash cans, stick out their tongues and bring home bad grades. Moral: Capers can only ever be an acquired taste, and this remorseful one must wait until the kids grow up. Krall's shiny digital illustrations are cartoony and bold, with some Grinch-like expressions and dramatic composition. One Everykid-likes-lollipops spread could be straight from Disney's "It's a Small World." There's a sly edginess to characters who'll do anything to be eaten, but this particular pickled sourpuss loses his tang as he lowers his expectations. (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
