FICTION

Are You Eating Candy without Me?

by Draga Jenny Malesevic (text) & illus. by Charlotte Bruijn
Penguin Workshop. Aug. 2020. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781524792015.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 3–A sweet and sassy picture book asks the question every kid is dying to have their caregivers answer: “Are you eating candy without me?!” Malesevic and Bruijn imagine a world where parents, as soon as they are alone, break every rule on the planet. The book has charm, and the candy-coated cover has a lot of appeal. Brujin’s colorful artwork shines. However, the humor of the story is muddied and far too mild, as if the author is afraid to really show adults behaving badly; attending fancy parties, climbing trees, and dressing up in bright costumes and pretending they are in a play isn’t really a violation of the rules. It could be that parents are actually no worse than the mischievous children in their charge.
VERDICT This additional purchase is a lighthearted look at what parents might be doing when the kids are away—and yes, they’re probably eating the candy.
Reviewed by Shannon O’Connor, Unami M.S., Chalfont, PA , Jul 01, 2020

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