Review by Booklist Review
Cooking up its own Green Eggs and Ham scenario, this hilarious Ready-to-Read book focuses on friendship, conflict resolution, and, most important, cupcakes. Bug is excited to share his tasty cupcake with his pal, Trilobite. Unfortunately, Trilobite doesn't like trying new foods, preferring to stick to a reliable diet of noodles. Bug does his best to entice Trilobite ("It's probably the best snack ever!") before trying--unsuccessfully--to trap his stubborn friend with logic: "How do you KNOW you only like noodles?" "What will you eat if you run out of noodles?" Trilobite confidently states, "I will NEVER run out of noodles" and flashes his lifetime membership card to the Noodle of the Month Club. When Trilobite refuses to try even a crumb, Bug gives up and takes a big, delicious bite himself--so good that he sinks to the ground in bliss. That gets Trilobite's attention. He finally takes a timid taste, followed by an enthusiastic CHOMP! that effectively demonstrates that trying something new isn't so bad. Styled much like Elephant and Piggie books, the cartoonish illustrations showcase the characters' expressive faces and funny interactions, setting them against solid color backgrounds. The limited text appears strictly as speech-bubble dialogue and features repetition well suited for new readers and young graphic novel fans. With his latest, Geisel Honor Book author-illustrator Fenske again takes the cake.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--2--A great way to encourage children to read is to make available books at their level with characters or subjects that suit their interest. Geisel Honor winner Fenske does just that with his beginning reader titles, and this one is no exception. Much like in Green Eggs and Ham, Trilobite does not want to try Bug's new dish, which appears to be a cupcake. Trilobite loves noodles, and that is that. In an increasingly heated discussion between the two, Bug tries many times to get Trilobite to eat the new food, and Trilobite gets evermore frustrated at Bug's nonstop insistence. The text is written in the form of a beginning graphic novel, with speech bubbles much like in Mo Willems's "Elephant & Piggie" books. This format will entice children who are drawn to the graphic style and feel. Fenske's brightly drawn, expressive bugs are adorable, and the story flows and moves quickly. VERDICT Buy it. Kids will have fun reading the banter between Bug and Trilobite.--Cassie Veselovsky
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