You Are the Pea, and I Am the Carrot

PreS-Gr 3—In this debut picture book, a boy and girl reflect on a long list of foods that belong together: peas and carrots, macaroni and cheese, bread and butter, and extend the concept to themselves. "We belong together./Mouthwatering are we./We complement each other./We're the perfect recipe." The concept is sound, celebrating the love between friends or family members, but the execution falls flat on several levels. The rhyme scheme is forced, causing the abbreviation of "marshmallows" to "'mallows" and "flapjacks" to "'jacks," and an awkward verse ends the story. "And I am the salsa to your chip./'Cause we will always belong together/And will never-ever-ever-be split!" The cartoon illustrations, pencil with computer-added color, are engaging on some pages but slightly off on others, featuring green-colored sweet tea and a large pink marshmallow. The age of the characters depicted also seems somewhat ambiguous, making it unclear if they are youngsters playing together or teens on a date.—Martha Link Yesowitch, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC