ABC Pasta

January 9, 2017
In an alphabetical companion to 1 Big Salad, Medina combines photographs of pasta, cheeses, and herbs with scribbly digital drawing to create a spirited cast of circus performers. Medina introduces the performers using tongue-twisting alliterative phrases—“Pecorino and Parmigiano, plate spinners,” for instance—and makes playful use of varying shapes of pasta: twisting gemelli forms the bodies of two gymnasts, and nests of thin pastas often (perhaps too often) serve as the performers’ hair. Vocabulary-wise, it’s a mouthful, from “campanelle clowns” to a “vermicelli vanishing act,” and a cacio e pepe recipe awaits hungry readers. Up to age 3. Agent: Gillian MacKenzie, Gillian MacKenzie Agency.

November 1, 2016
Get your forks ready--this salute to pasta via the ABCs is truly entertaining, as the subtitle states.Photographs of real pasta of many varieties are overlaid on loosely drawn digital drawings against white space to lend form and figure to circus performers A to Z. The cover image of a ringmaster with a rigatoni body sets up the conceit, and the fun is on. A stands for "angel hair acrobats": four figures with angel-hair nests for faces and leotards with red, green, blue, or yellow stripes. C is for "campanelle clowns" wearing silly pasta hats. F is for "fettuccine fire-eaters," with the pasta representing the fire. The occasional nonpasta item harmonizes nicely, as with the "herb hoops" a couple of acrobats use as props and the "plate spinners" named "Pecorino and Parmigiano." Medina introduces other proper names too, as in "quick Quentin quadrucci" and "x-traordinary Xavier the xylophonist." Some of the elements are quite exotic, such as the "nets" made of "nero di seppia" that catch the trapeze artists. The endpapers are small drawings of the various circus performers. Some require that readers look closely, as with the strands of "spaghetti" that act as bleachers for the "spectators." All letters are presented clearly in both upper- and lowercase. Younger kids are not likely to recognize many of the lesser-known types of pasta, but what a toothsome way to have fun with them. (Picture book. 5-10)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from December 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Medina follows up her delectable counting book, 1 Big Salad, with a circus-themed look at the ABCs. A mouth-watering mix of performers juggle, soar, and cavort their way through the alphabet. Each letter is accompanied by a zippy alliterative phrase ("basil balancing ballerinas," "fettucine fire-eaters") and a whimsical illustration that incorporates a photo of a different type of pasta-related food. The artist makes inspired use of her edible medium: pieces of bell-like campanelle transform into clown hats; twisting strands of gemelli comprise the lithe, contorting bodies of the gymnasts; and a heap of vermicelli becomes a magician's shock of hair. Featuring thick black lines and splashes of color, the digitally created visuals look as though they were sketched with a Sharpie pen; lively and witty, they perfectly complement the clever wordplay of the text. There's plenty of white space here, resulting in a clean, elegant design. Medina is clearly in her element; each page reflects her humor, creativity, and passion for food. Appended is a recipe for cacio e pepe. VERDICT Children and adults alike will savor this dazzling addition, and the possibilities for programming ideas are endless. A must-have, especially for those seeking to spice up their concept book collections.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2016
Preschool-K *Starred Review* From angel hair acrobats to zestful zip liner ziti, this alphabet book is a never-ending pasta bowl of fun that will inspire readers to explore the delicious, varied world of pasta. In Medina's (Juana and Lucas, 2016) imaginative hands, pasta of every conceivable kind becomes hair, hats, and helmets; beards, bodies, and musical instruments. Each letter, shown in uppercase and lowercase, is given its own whimsical page. Within a lively circus setting, concise text arcs around a troupe of smiling, rosy-cheeked clowns, gymnasts, magicians, knife throwers, and more. Like 1 Big Salad (2016), Medina's clever illustrations use thick black lines, colored washes, and subtle prints to bring inanimate objects to life. Created using digital techniques and photographs of various pastas, herbs, and cheeses, the images pop off the clean, white backgrounds. Many of the words may be a (tasty) mouthful for youngsters, but the fun sounds will tantalize their tongues. Don't miss the simple recipe for cacio e pepepasta with cheese and black pepperon the final page, or the detailed endpapers decorated with the book's illustrations repeated in miniature. This is the perfect book to read together before taking a field trip to the grocery store pasta aisle to find the letters and shapes of campanelle, gemelli, tortellini, and more.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)