At some point in their lives, most kids go through a picky eater phase. Maybe they'll only eat white foods, like chicken nuggets, noodles (no sauce), and mashed potatoes (no gravy). Maybe they seem to live on peanut butter sandwiches (no crust) and macaroni and cheese (only Kraft). Maybe they refuse to eat vegetables or try anything new. No matter how it manifests, everyone at some point gets a little weird about what they eat, and the boy found in Josh Schneider's book Tales for Very Picky Eaters is no exception. In each chapter of this easy reader, James' parents set a food before him that he refuses to eat. And each time, his dad uses a variety of clever tricks to convince James to give the food a chance. Tall tales, humor, and even logic are all employed to get James to try foods like broccoli and lumpy oatmeal. Fortunately for Dad these tactics seem to work and James consents to try - and sometimes even enjoy - the foods that he had previously insisted were repulsive. This book is simply a lot of fun. Kids - picky eaters or not - will delight in the story's humor and strange scenarios. Parents will likely identify with James' father and appreciate his clever tactics. The colorful illustrations round out this beginner reader and bring to life James' father's tall tales. No matter who you are, there is something to appreciate in this story.
Overall Grade: A-/B+
Edit 1/23/12: Congratulations to Josh Schneider, who won the 2012 Theodore Seuss Geisel Award for Tales for Very Picky Eaters.
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