Are You a Cheeseburger?

by Monica Arnaldo, Monica Arnaldo (Illustrator)

Overview

A Kids' Indie Next List pick! Laugh-out-loud humor and a tender friendship blossom in author-illustrator Monica Arnaldo’s charming picture book about a lonely raccoon and a glowing seed, and the world’s most important question: Can this seed grow cheeseburgers? 

Grub is a lonely racoon. Rumbling in the trash. Looking for food.

Seed is, well, a seed! Patiently waiting in the trash. Hoping someone will plant it. 

When the two finally meet, they realize they might be able to help each other! Grub has just one big question first: What will Seed grow? Could Seed grow Grub’s favorite food, mouthwatering cheeseburgers? Seed isn’t sure what a cheeseburger is exactly, but . . . maybe!

And so begins a hilarious friendship following two unlikely strangers learning more about the other and discovering the pressure that comes with fulfilling expectations. Author-illustrator Monica Arnaldo will leave readers giggling and clamoring for more in this charming story that celebrates the unexpected—and how the most special friendships bloom only when we are unapologetically ourselves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063003941
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/01/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	150,172
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Monica Arnaldo was born in Ontario, Canada, where the trash cans are often filled with raccoons and half-eaten cheeseburgers (but seldom any glowing seeds). When she wasn’t drawing or reading, she spent much of her childhood pondering some of life’s great questions, such as “Can I pet that wild animal?” and “Why not?” She has since written and illustrated several picture books and moved to Quebec, where raccoons speak French.

Monica Arnaldo was born in Ontario, Canada, where the trash cans are often filled with raccoons and half-eaten cheeseburgers (but seldom any glowing seeds). When she wasn’t drawing or reading, she spent much of her childhood pondering some of life’s great questions, such as “Can I pet that wild animal?” and “Why not?” She has since written and illustrated several picture books and moved to Quebec, where raccoons speak French.

Editorial Reviews

04/05/2021

While foraging in a garbage can, a raccoon named Grub meets glowing green Seed, who has bright black eyes and a knowing smile. Seed, who is hoping to get planted, isn’t in a hurry to dissuade Grub of the notion that Seed could eventually grow into his favorite food, a “very good and very special” cheeseburger. But what starts as a relationship of mutual expediency deepens as Grub keeps watch on the patch of ground where Seed is nestled. Arnaldo’s (Time for Bed’s Story) witty mixed-media drawings keep readers slightly off-balance—in a good way—through their mix of real and fanciful elements and varying compositional tactics as the two exchange stories and deepen their bond: “Grub told Seed about the top three cheeseburgers he had ever eaten.... Seed told Grub about all the interesting things he saw down in the earth.” When Seed pops through the ground and blossoms into a flower, Grub’s face is the very picture of thwarted expectations—until he realizes how much the friendship means to him. There’s a lot of profundity within these whimsical pages—about growing up, overcoming disappointment through acceptance, and valuing relationships over personal needs—which should plant some hearty seeds of conversation for readers of all ages. Ages 4–8. Agent: Alexandra Levick, Writers House. (June)

Publishers Weekly

There’s a lot of profundity within these whimsical pages—about growing up, overcoming disappointment through acceptance, and valuing relationships over personal needs—which should plant some hearty seeds of conversation for readers of all ages.” — Publishers Weekly

“Emotionally authentic and sweet without being saccharine. Silly and heartwarming in equal measure.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Audiences will enjoy the clever banter between the new friends and the literal visual feast the illustrations offer up. Aspiring botanists and young foodies will appreciate this quirky little tale.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Refreshingly novel for its unexpected duo of characters. Will amuse young listeners. A delightfully quirky tale about an uncommon pairing of characters that offers light humor and guileless dialogue as they learn to treasure their blossoming friendship." — School Library Journal

“This is a sweet tale of slow-blossoming friendship and unconditional acceptance, of celebrating differences and being gentle with others. Highly original and excellent… the illustrations present delightful layers of imaginative, whimsical joy.”   — Booklist

From the Publisher

This is a sweet tale of slow-blossoming friendship and unconditional acceptance, of celebrating differences and being gentle with others. Highly original and excellent… the illustrations present delightful layers of imaginative, whimsical joy.”  

Booklist

Audiences will enjoy the clever banter between the new friends and the literal visual feast the illustrations offer up. Aspiring botanists and young foodies will appreciate this quirky little tale.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

This is a sweet tale of slow-blossoming friendship and unconditional acceptance, of celebrating differences and being gentle with others. Highly original and excellent… the illustrations present delightful layers of imaginative, whimsical joy.”  

Booklist

Audiences will enjoy the clever banter between the new friends and the literal visual feast the illustrations offer up. Aspiring botanists and young foodies will appreciate this quirky little tale.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

05/01/2021

PreS-K—Refreshingly novel for its unexpected duo of characters, Arnaldo's digitally illustrated story about a budding friendship between a raccoon and a plant seed will amuse young listeners. Grub the raccoon roots through a trash can for his dinner, only to find a curious, green Seed asking to be planted in the ground. With the fervent hope that Seed will become a cheeseburger plant, Grub cares for him as he sprouts. Grub has never had cheeseburgers before, deeming them "very good and very special," a handy but subtle metaphor that ultimately reflects the idea of friendship and often pops into the duo's simple, sometimes silly, conversations. Interpreting such an unembellished message in the story amid the action and creative visuals may require discussion to help reveal how the time Grub and Seed spend growing a special friendship, rather than cheeseburgers, holds the greater value. Arnaldo makes productive use of negative space and crafts different perspectives panel by panel to set the pace of the text and animate her characters; however, insights into Grub and Seed's emotions are limited, with exception to the conclusive revelation. VERDICT A delightfully quirky tale about an uncommon pairing of characters that offers light humor and guileless dialogue as they learn to treasure their blossoming friendship.—Rachel Mulligan, Westampton, NJ

School Library Journal

2021-04-14
Grub the raccoon just can’t wait for Seed the seed to grow into a cheeseburger plant.

Grub loves cheeseburgers, although his real-life cheeseburger experience is limited. When Grub finds Seed in the garbage, he plants him in the hopes of growing a cheeseburger plant. Seed isn’t exactly sure what he’s going to grow into, but he wants to make his new friend happy. When he finally blooms, he’s not quite what Grub had been hoping for. This utterly charming book is full of humor in both the text and the adorable illustrations. Grub’s expressive face is delightful, whether he’s disappointed, deep in contemplation, or giving a hard side-eye. The primary moral of the story is that we should accept our friends for who they are, not try to change them. But the author also incorporates some more subtle and sophisticated lessons. Seed’s calm, cheerful attitude toward his unknown future models an open-minded acceptance of change. Grub’s initial disappointment and ensuing loving acceptance feel emotionally authentic and sweet without being saccharine, highlighted by the affecting double-page illustrations. Both characters experience growth and discovery in their identities, demonstrating that it’s OK to not know exactly what the future holds for you. Don’t mistake these messages for preachiness, though. It is enjoyable purely as a funny and touching story about a raccoon and a seed who are friends. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Silly and heartwarming in equal measure. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews