A Few Bites

PreS-K—Ferdie and his older sister, Viola, of A Few Blocks (Groundwood, 2011) are back in another exquisite picture book about the power of imagination. When Ferdie would rather play than eat lunch, Viola's creativity is put to the test. Young employs a minimalist approach in the early pages, depicting the siblings in black ink on a purely white background. Viola coaxes Ferdie into eating by telling him his broccoli and carrots are really dinosaur food and alien fuel. Cutout drawings of bellowing tyrannosaurs and hungry sharks depicted in rich, saturated watercolors are inserted as Viola's stories come to life, giving the book a three-dimensional, surreal feel. Details of cozy domestic life (a teddy bear, a bowl of cat food) are jammed in along with whirling planets and aliens, resulting in a zany mélange that young readers will love. When Viola's powers of invention are finally exhausted, she explodes in anger. However, the two make amends by the story's conclusion, with Viola offering to take part in her brother's game ("Ferdie, let's find that special part for your fighter ship."). The spare, quiet style of the text perfectly expresses the simple joys of the sibling relationship. Young expertly conveys the children's frustration, boredom, and excitement through their facial expressions and body postures. The small size of this book makes it ideal for independent reading or one-on-one sharing, and children will discover plenty of new details on second and third readings.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal