My Foodie ABC

August 30, 2010
Picky eaters need not apply—this abecedarian board book takes a global, to-the-minute approach to cuisine (bento box, locavore, and taco truck are among the featured words). Each term comes with a brief description that’s as fresh as the item described (“Watch out for the spines, since nopales come from prickly pears”). With cheery pastel-hued artwork, phonetic spellings (when needed), and a striking variety of foodstuffs, it should easily whet readers’ appetites. Ages 3–5.

November 1, 2010
J is for jícama, W is for weisswurst and X is for xuxu in this smug foodie alphabet book that may please gourmet parents but will definitely mystify their children. With two or three items per spread, capital and lower-case letters appear on a patterned background paired with a word or term (with pronunciation guide when necessary) and a paragraph-length gloss as well as a picture. I is for ice cream is one of the few child-friendly items in this book, though children may be taken aback by the reference to "extra-virgin olive oil gelato." Other terms (gourmet, kobe beef, locavore) are hopelessly beyond the ken of the vast majority of toddlers. Between the busyness of the layout and the failure of so many terms to match phonetically with their letters, this self-indulgent effort is one to leave behind. (Board book. 3-4)

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