Description
This hilarious picture book from author Danny Schnitzlein will have little pea-phobes, picky eaters, and monster lovers begging for repeated reads.
“The rhymes flow, begging to be read aloud. Faulkner has created a truly disgusting monster with hairy feet and icky toenails, covered with slimy vegetables, too big for the page. Children will clamor to hear this one again and again.” ―School Library Journal
What do you dread eating the most? For one young boy, it’s peas, but he’s discovered a solution.
“I closed my eyes tightly and sent out a wish
That the peas would somehow disappear from my dish
And something quite strange and mysterious occurred,
As if somehow… somebody… somewhere had heard.”
He makes a bargain with a fiendishly funny monster who will eat the boy’s peas in exchange for a soccer ball. But with each new encounter, the monster’s demands escalate. Eventually, our hero faces a daunting decision―can he conquer his loathing for peas, or will he lose his most prized possession?
Danny Schnitzlein’s Seuss-inspired verse combine with Matt Faulkner’s uproariously detailed illustrations to create a clever story about how far we’re willing to go to avoid the things we hate.
Awards:
Virginia Readers’ Choice (Primary Winner) ―Virginia State Reading Association
Young Hoosier Book Award (Picture Book) ―Association for Indiana Media Educators
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee, Picture Book) ―Maryland Educational Media Organization
Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award (Nominee) ―Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Show Me Readers Award (Nominee) ―Missouri Association of School Librarians
Reviews
“Arcimboldo meets Mad Magazine as a monster that looks like a cross between an octopus and a compost pile bargains with a young narrator willing to sacrifice his prized soccer ball, and even his new bike, rather than eat peas… there’s a Seussian (or Clement Clarke Moore) flavor to the rhymed text… the rollicking rhythms and madcap, over-the-top art give this… [book] plenty of comic energy.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“The rhymes flow, begging to be read aloud. Faulkner has created a truly disgusting monster with hairy feet and icky toenails, covered with slimy vegetables, too big for the page. Children will clamor to hear this one again and again.” ―School Library Journal
“The author must have a hilarious imagination to write such a fun rhyming tale. So did the illustrator in creating the perfect characters for the tale, especially the grotesque monster, the darling baby and cute puppy. Kids will want to read or have this book read to them over and over again.” ―It’s About Time, MaMaw
“Illustrated in muted, muddy earth tones, this fanciful, award-winning book features clever rhyming prose and emotion-laden imagery. It’s a great book for encouraging kids to try new foods.” ―Janet Boyer
“Full of rhyming, lyrical prose…this book is perfect for explaining that food that we dislike or hate isn’t nearly as bad as we think!” ―Jenn’s Bookshelves
Awards
Virginia Readers’ Choice (Primary Winner) ―Virginia State Reading Association, 2005-2006
Young Hoosier Book Award (Picture Book) ―Association for Indiana Media Educators, 2003-2004
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee, Picture Book) ―Maryland Educational Media Organization, 2003-2004
Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award (Nominee) ―Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, 2003-2004
Show Me Readers Award (Nominee) ―Missouri Association of School Librarians, 2003-2004
More Details
AR Level: 3.6
F&P: GRL O, Gr 3, Genre F
Lexile: NP
Themes: Facing Fears, Food Choices, Nutrition
BISAC 1: JUV019000 JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories
BISAC 2: JUV052000 JUVENILE FICTION / Monsters
BISAC 3: JUV005000 JUVENILE FICTION / Boys & Men
