Chew, Chew, Gulp!

by Lauren Thompson, Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Illustrator)

Overview

Bestselling Little Quack author Lauren Thompson and acclaimed illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka have teamed up to show you just how much fun eating can be. Crunching, munching, gobbling, or guzzling—there are so many different ways to do it! And you can try them all.

This bright, rhythmic book is perfect for the youngest chompers and gulpers. Each page has a big, bold toddler face, minimal rhyming text, and a corresponding label for the food being eaten. So meal time isn't just delicious - it's enlightening too!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416997443
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	05/24/2011
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Lauren Thompson is the author of several picture books, including the popular Mouse’s First series, Little Quack series, and the Wee Little series. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed The Apple Pie That Papa Baked as well as Leap Back Home to Me; Chew, Chew, Gulp!; and Hop, Hop, Jump! She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn, New York.

Jarrett Krosoczka graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and is the author and illustrator of many great picture books including Punk Farm, Good Night, Monkey Boy, Baghead, Max for President, and the Lunch Lady graphic novel series. He lives in Northampton, MA, with his family.

Editorial Reviews

Given the talent of these two collaborators, this book about different methods of eating comes across as fairly lackluster. In the opening scene, a multiracial cast of children announces, "Eating isn't hard to do./ Follow us!/ We'll show you." Painting in bright acrylics, Krosoczka (Punk Farm) shows a boy eating mashed potatoes ("Swirl it") and a girl eating spaghetti ("Curl it"), followed by a spread with a girl eating pudding ("Scoop it") and a boy eating licorice ("Loop it"). Each scene features a different background and coordinating patterned tablecloth, and the kids display enthusiasm for the various foods (labeled on each page) that may help sway picky eaters. Thompson (the Little Quack books) groups some verbs according to rhymes ("Sip it./ Nip it./ Pick it./ Lick it") or alliteration ("Chomp it. Chop it"), and she keeps the focus on the actions involved. The light verse has a bouncing rhythm, but while the project suggests that mealtime can be fun (especially when spaghetti or soup are involved) neither Krosoczka's generically cheery artwork nor Thompson's uncomplicated text have much zing. Ages 3–5. (May)

Publishers Weekly

PreS—Four children demonstrate ways to eat different foods—on each page or spread, one or more of the youngsters is shown "chewing," "gulping," "crumbling," "nibbling," etc. The simple rhyming text is action packed. For example, "Swirl it. (mashed potatoes) Curl it. (spaghetti) Scoop it. (pudding) Loop it. (licorice)." The simple acrylic illustrations set the kids and food against bright, deliciously varied colored backgrounds. The last sequence has them eating soup, "Slurp, slurp, BURP!/Easy as pie!" and as they dig into their dessert, the children all say: "Now YOU try!" Toddlers and preschoolers will love to imitate the actions, either in a food storytime or one-on-one.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

School Library Journal

As four youngsters manipulate and maneuver the food and drink set before them, swirling and scooping playfully take center stage. In isolated scenes and small-group settings, the children devour each offering with gusto while a small label accompanies each featured snack. The emphasis here is on the eating process instead of the snacks ingested. Many actions depict the actual manner in which items may be eaten (popcorn popped into a mouth or the crunch of teeth on a carrot). A few connections are a little on the flimsy side; the words "prod it" depict a young boy poking a single tomato, hand on hip and one eye closed. Typography varies dramatically to accentuate each pointed beat. "Sip it. / Nip it. / Pick it. / Lick it. / Nibble it. / Crumble it. / Jab, jab, / POKE!" Often-monosyllabic text rhythmically flows into clipped phrases to complete each strand. Though the children portrayed cross racial boundaries, there's no global emphasis (chopsticks are absent, for instance). Similar in stature and ability, the children approach each action with joy, though, occasionally, vacant wide-eyed stares stunt expressiveness. Simple background design creates a soothing pattern. Not a lot of food for thought, but an enthusiastic, fast-paced feast nonetheless. (Picture book. 2-4)

Kirkus Reviews