6. The Knight Snacker

The Knight Snacker. Valeria Wicker. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It was a dark and stormy, tummy-rumbling night. Sir Julian was eager for dinner. He spotted Mom's new recipe: Fusion Fondue. "Eat! It's healthy!" Mom said. But it looked and smelled deadly, like dragon's ooze.

Premise/plot: "Sir" Julian refuses to eat supper (though he pretends) and so later that night he's hungry enough to go on the prowl. This "brave knight" will face his fears as he seeks out a night-time snack. What will he find in the refrigerator to snack on?

My thoughts: I wanted to like this one. But to be perfectly honest I found it meh. I'm torn between two stars and three stars. This one had potential, in my opinion, it just personally disappointed. I am not at all saying that it will disappoint other readers. This is in some ways your typical picky eater picture book with the addition of the protagonist having a knight-obsession. It is imaginative enough in some ways. Just wasn't quite for me. I think one thing in its favor--and I do try to find positives in what I read--is that it has LOTS of descriptions/descriptive words. For example, "His nose twitched. His mouth gagged. But hunger was like a ferocious, five-horned, fire-breathing dragon." 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

46. I Am Picky

I Am Picky: Confessions of a Fussy Eater. Kristen Tracy. Illustrated by Erin Kraan. 2022. [October 18] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Don't look at me and think I'll eat ANYTHING. I will NOT. I am PICKY. I've been choosy my whole life.

Premise/plot: Is this raccoon a picky eater? Is pickiness all in the eye of the beholder? Is it all relative or subjective? Perhaps. The text definitely reveals that everyone is picky sometimes...in differing ways. 

My thoughts: I like picture books about picky eaters. However, while I really LOVED the cover of this one, I thought the story itself was a little too gross for me...personally. No surprise to anyone...that I can be a picky reader. I think the 'gross' nature of this one--the raccoon's favorite treats from garbage cans--will appeal to certain readers. There's an age and stage that this one will appeal to.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Felix Eats Up

Felix Eats Up (Felix and Fiona) Rosemary Wells. 2019. Candlewick Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Felix brought the same sandwich to school every day. He had no need to try anything new. He was happy with just his sprouts on buttered oat bread.

Premise/plot: Felix will be spending the night at Fiona's house. That would be good news--great news--if they were staying home for dinner. Fiona's mom makes macaroni and cheese. Felix is okay with macaroni and cheese. But they are going out to dinner. And he has no say in where they go. Felix will most likely have to go somewhere he does not want to go. Felix will most likely have to try something new--or go hungry. Will he survive the night?!

My thoughts: I have mixed thoughts on Felix Eats Up. On the one hand, Felix is much braver--in general--than I was/am. Felix does NOT think of an excuse to postpone the sleepover. Felix does NOT let his fear or worry change his plans. If Felix had known about eating out BEFORE saying yes to the sleepover, would he have suggested a different night? We'll never know. Fiona is kind and compassionate. But firm. She's not such a people-pleaser that she'll let Felix's picky eating influence where she celebrates her half-birthday. Felix needs to be taken care of--nurtured--and Fiona steps up to do just that. She'll coax him steadily through every single "scary" experience.

On the other hand, how realistic is it that Felix would actually LIKE and FIND DELICIOUS every single one of the twelve new foods he tries?!?! I could easily see a person liking some of what they try new. Also there is a difference between liking enough to eat just the one time and actually like-liking enough to order it again.

And another thing, the writing seemed a bit off/weird. "All of a sudden, Fiona's mama called the Dragon's Belly. She made a reservation for four." Also, how do you get birthday candles in a fortune cookie? Also, who really celebrates half-birthdays with half-birthday songs and blowing out of candles?

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

I Won't Eat That

I Won't Eat That. Christopher Silas Neal. 2017. [November] Candlewick Press. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Dogs eat dog food. Fish eat fish food. But I'm a cat, and I will NOT eat cat food. It's dry and dull and not very yummy. Yuck. But if I don't eat cat food, what will I eat?

Premise/plot: The cat in Christopher Silas Neal's I Won't Eat That is a very picky eater. He knows one thing: cat food is not for him. But what is the right food for him? Cat goes around asking all sorts of animals what they eat. He rejects their answers one by one. Too wiggly. Too bouncy. Too boring. Will Cat find his answer?

My thoughts: I liked this one. Picky eating isn't necessarily a new subject in picture books. But it feels right for a cat to be picky about what he/she eats. Is this one completely realistic?! Perhaps not. I don't know what kind of neighborhood Cat lives in, but his quest takes him to a fox, a lion, a whale, a chimp, a turtle, and an elephant! Certainly not the animals you'd expect.

The twist. I kept expecting a twist. I had a feeling that Cat would ask the wrong animal what they ate. I did NOT want to see curiosity killing the cat. That is NOT the case. But Cat's not the only animal asking questions. And curiosity ends up killing someone....

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Bread and Jam for Frances

Bread and Jam for Frances. Russell Hoban. Illustrated by Lillian Hoban. 1964/1992. HarperCollins. 32 pages.

It was breakfast time, and everyone was at the table. Father was eating his egg. Mother was eating her egg. Gloria was sitting in a high chair and eating her egg too. Frances was eating bread and jam.
"What a lovely egg!" said Father.
"If there is one thing I am fond of for breakfast, it is a soft-boiled egg."
"Yes," said Mother, spooning up egg for the baby, "it is just the thing to start the day off right."
"Ah!" said Gloria, and ate up her egg.
Frances did not eat her egg. She sang a little song to it. She sang the song very softly:

I do not like the way you slide,

I do not like your soft inside,

I do not like you lots of ways,

And could do for many days

Without eggs.

Frances just LOVES, LOVES, LOVES bread and jam. She wants to eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack. She doesn't want to try new foods. She doesn't want to eat anything BUT bread and jam. Other people in her life--like her good friend, Albert, may have more interesting lunches, but is anything as good as her favorite comfort food?! Will Frances, the badger, ever tire of bread and jam?! Read and see in one of my favorite, favorite picture books! Frances makes up so many lovely songs in this one! And readers get to meet Albert--I've always liked Albert very much!


© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Too Pickley!

Too Pickley! By Jean Reidy. Illustrated by Genevieve Leloup. 2010. July 2010. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

I am hungry!
Too wrinkly,
Too squishy,
Too fruity,
Too fishy!

Meet a little boy who is a very picky eater. He finds fault with everything placed before him. Will he find a meal that is just right? Read and see for yourself in Jean Reidy's Too Pickley!

I liked this one. I didn't love it like I loved Jean Reidy's Too Purpley. But. I did like it.

I think the illustrations were great.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli

Hicks, Barbara Jean. 2009. Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli. Illustrated by Sue Hendra. Random House.

Predictable and silly are the two words that describe this one best. The book features monsters who are adamantly opposed to eating broccoli. These monsters might eat tractors or wheely, steely stew, but you'll never find them eating broccoli. How absurd to think these monsters ever would. But by the end of the book, these monsters have transformed into kids...and they're happily munching on broccoli. Of course, they claim to be eating crunchy, munch trees.

The waitress in this restaurant
just doesn't have a clue.
Monsters don't eat broccoli!
How could she think we do?

Books about picky eaters aren't new. Of course, neither is the problem of having youngsters who are picky eaters. This book wouldn't be my first choice on the topic--that would be I Will Never Not Ever Eat A Tomato by Lauren Child--or even my second choice--that would probably be Little Pea by by Amy Krouse Rosenthal--but it's a nice enough book.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers