Spoon

March 30, 2009
Young Spoon lives a fairly happy life with a large extended family (including a ladle and a very fancy Aunt Silver), but he can't help being a bit jealous of some of his friends. Knife, for example, “is so lucky! He gets to cut, he gets to spread.” Not to mention Chopsticks: “Everyone thinks they're really cool and exotic! No one thinks I'm cool or exotic.” Spoon's mother doesn't try to change his mind, but reacts neutrally. Outside conversations let readers know that Spoon is being envied right back: “Spoon is so lucky!” sigh the Chopsticks. “We could never function apart.” At bedtime, Spoon's mom offers encouragement (“Your friends will never know the joy of diving headfirst into a bowl of ice cream”) then invites him into the big bed—to spoon, of course. The talented Magoon (Mystery Ride!
) gives the utensils plenty of personality, with wide eyes and expressive antlike appendages, and Rosenthal's (Little Pea
) skillful storytelling moves along briskly. The humorous but earnest message about valuing one's own talents comes through loud and clear. Ages 2–6.

June 1, 2009
PreS-Gr 2-It seems that young Spoon is having feelings of inadequacy since he cannot do what other pieces of cutlery can do. He cannot slice like Knife, or pierce things like Fork, and he's certainly not exotic like Chopsticks. Apparently this is a drawer-wide problem because the knives, forks, and even chopsticks wish they could do what Spoon can do: bang, plunge into a bowl of ice cream, or clink against a bowl of cereal. Soothed by his mother with these thoughts, he "felt so alive!" So he hops over the drawer divider to snuggle with his parents. Although this is a nice try at creativity, the story asks too much from its readers for too little payoff. There are many wonderful stories about overcoming feelings of jealousy and reinforcing self-esteem. This is not one of them."Jane Marino, Great Neck Library, New York"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2008
Preschool-G Spoon is a spoon who is feeling down because his life is not as exciting as those of his friends Knife, Fork, and Chopsticks. He covets their thrilling jobs and unique styles (And Chopsticks! They are so lucky! Everyone thinks theyre really cool and exotic.). As it turns out, the other culinary implements think Spoon is the one who has it madewho else gets to bang on pots, dive into a bowl of ice cream, or relax inhot cup of tea? Invigorated by these reassurances, Spoon cant sleep and so hops into bed with his parents and, you guessed it, spoons. The details included in Magoons artwork are laugh-out-loud funny: in the Spoon family photo, black-sheep Spork can be seen looking woeful off to the side; there is a cute gag about a dish who ran away with a spoon; and the depiction of the Chopsticks as a couple of deadly serious ballroom dancers prancing around a plate of sushi is indelible. Rosenthals creation is adorable and funny and will be embraced by both children and parents.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)