Starred review from December 1, 2024
Toddler-PreS-Food is cookies and rainbows but also so much more in this ode to the love of treats and eats. With the turn of the page, readers discover that food is not only life, but also a friend and possibly the purveyor of happiness. This mouthwatering ABC book introduces children to the alphabet while also exposing them to a wide variety of foods and cultures. Each letter is presented on its own page with a corresponding food. Emoji faces give life to the foods represented, while happy colors of pink, purple, blue, yellow, and green brighten each page. Foods from a variety of cultures are presented. Clues to key ingredients or recommended food and drink pairings are found within the images; singsong rhymes and alliteration invite children to share in the fun. Facts about each food, along with pronunciation, are found in a spread at the end of the book. VERDICT This celebration of food is a rare thing, a truly essential board book.-Misty Schattle
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
February 1, 2025
From the sweet to the savory, delicacies from various cultures introduce letters of the alphabet. "I could just eat you up!" With this tasty treat, Wan offers caregivers a litany of creative ways to convey that familiar message. A different anthropomorphized food takes center stage on each page, paired with loving affirmations addressed to little ones.A is for "my warm APPLE PIE, / just you and me," whileB is for "My BURRITO baby, / snug as can be." Other dishes include a "swirly, whirly DOSA dream," a "cutie-patootie / potatoey KNISH," a "squishy MANDU," and a "WONTON wonder." This alphabetically arranged feast is followed up with backmatter that lists each food's pronunciation, its country of origin, and a brief description. The eye-catching, apple-cheeked, emojilike foods beam up at readers, while details in the art occasionally reference the dishes' ingredients or cultural origins. The empanada stands in front of a tomato, a hunk of cheese, and a pepper, while the gyoza is depicted with a pair of chopsticks. Though some may find the illustrations saccharine, with their abundance of hearts, rainbows, and sparkles, the sentiments expressed are lovely, conveyed in simple rhymes with some downright delicious wordplay. A foldout poster featuring all the letters and corresponding foods is included. A scrumptious, intensely adorable look at the ABCs.(Picture book. 0-3)
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