Tales for Very Picky Eaters

Picky little boy James doesn't want any "disgusting broccoli" or "smelly lasagna"; okay, offers his sly father, how about some dirt or pre-chewed gum? When James turns up his nose at "repulsive milk," Dad explains, tongue-in-cheek, what fun it will be to have "nice soft bones." Watercolor, pen-and-ink, and colored-pencil illustrations with plenty of white space display the imaginative scenarios.

A fun book for beginning readers that is full of dry wit. For example, when James refuses to eat his “disgusting” broccoli, his father offers instead “the finest dirt available at this time of the year, imported from the best dirt ranches in the country.” The stories’ silliness is tempered by the realistic and endearing family members: James, the picky eater; his father, who never appears in the art but narrates outrageous stories in an exceptionally pleasant and accommodating tone; and the family dog, who is only mentioned in passing but stars in many of the illustrations. Josh Schneider cleverly expands on the text in his artwork, providing an abundance of visual jokes. The wacky scenarios that James’s father dreams up—such as a troll in the basement and oatmeal that eats everything in its path—are humorously illustrated. The lighthearted approach may have special appeal for those who have experienced their own mealtime struggles. Though James’s father is clearly tricking him into eating, James is in on the joke by the end—and readers will be, too.