The Knight Snacker

by Valeria Wicker

Overview

This deliciously humorous picture book follows one young knight on a quest to overcome his fear of the dark to find a midnight snack.

Sir Julian has a BIG problem. It’s bedtime, but he’s starving!
 
Desperate for a snack to tame the hungry, grumbly beast in his stomach, he sets out on a quest to the kitchen.
 
But there are frightening unknowns lurking around every corner. Can he summon the courage to brave the dark and stop his rumbling tummy?

DON'T MISS more from Valeria Wicker:
The Ugly Doodles

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316456340
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	10/03/2023
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Valeria Wicker is the author of The Ugly Doodles and a graduate of an Italian art school. When she’s not drawing, she can be found in her tiny pottery studio, exploring new ways to express her creativity. Valeria resides in eastern Pennsylvania with her husband, Mike, their children, two teddy-bear-like Labradors, and a naughty cat named Fred. She invites you to visit her at valeriawicker.com or follow her on Instagram @valeriawicker. 

Editorial Reviews

08/21/2023

It’s the middle of the night, and a contemporary kid called Sir Julian realizes he’s famished—the result of having surreptitiously fed Mom’s nasty-smelling “Fusion Fondue” to the family dog. Too short to reach the light switch, the pale-skinned child must now make a quest to the kitchen to “conquer a scrumptious snack,” braving a darkness evoked in deep blue-green digital hues. Trailing a blanket cape and carrying a sword and stuffie in hand, he tames the potty monster by tinkling in it, realizes that a “hideous ghostly figure” he sees is just his reflection, and eventually makes it downstairs, only to discover that the only thing to eat is leftovers from the dreaded dinner. Is the knight brave enough—and hungry enough—to eat it? Employing in animation-like art a protagonist prone to imaginative perceptions, Wicker turns the hero’s journey on its side and tickles it. Ages 3–6. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

* “This charming tale is clever and unexpected … A book that will quickly become a favorite.”  —SLJ, starred review—SLJ, starred review

“Clever narration with puns, onomatopoeia, and alliteration support Sir Julian’s imagined self as a brave and noble knight …. Share this with adventurous picky eaters to help conquer their fears and feel victorious on a full tummy.”—BCCB

“Wicker turns the hero’s journey on its side and tickles it.”—Publishers Weekly

“Digital art effectively depicts Sir Julian’s wide range of emotions, from trepidation to terror to triumph … kids will enjoy comic nods like the overly dramatic depiction of the unfamiliar—and therefore—monstrous dinner.”—Kirkus

Praise for The Ugly Doodles:

"A hilarious ode to first attempts and revision results for every artist, writer, and maker."—Ame Dyckman, New York Times bestselling author

From the Publisher

★ 11/24/2023

PreS-Gr 2—Sir Julian is hungry, but his mother's Fusion Fondue is not as appetizing as he would like. So, he feeds his dinner to the dog and goes to bed with his tummy grumbling. When he can take it no more, Sir Julian suits up and ventures bravely into the darkness to sate his stomach in whatever way he can. Unfortunately, there are no snacks to be found, and Sir Julian must call upon what is left of his bravery to ease his discomfort. This charming tale is clever and unexpected, capitalizing on the trepidation one feels when navigating the dark. The use of dramatic lighting, word choice, and viewing angles amplifies the intensity of this story, which expertly builds and releases tension throughout. Cartoonlike images and frequent onomatopoeia make the narrative feel similar to a comic book, and readers will be drawn to each page as Sir Julian advances in his quest. Children who enjoy slightly spooky stories—whether at Halloween or at other times during the year—will find this book to be especially appealing thanks to the familiarity of its subject matter. Particularly well-designed to be read aloud, this is a book that will quickly become a favorite in families that appreciate the multifaceted joy that comes from being a kid. VERDICT This entertaining story is an excellent selection for reading aloud with young children.—Mary R. Lanni

School Library Journal

2023-07-13
A grocery list left on the table subtly foreshadows a nighttime quest for comestibles.

It’s dinnertime, and like so many kids, Sir Julian, a tan-skinned child, is not impressed with his mom’s experimental cooking, opting to feed it to the dog. Predictably, this leads to the need for snacks. Sir Julian’s evening—beginning with his supper, which smells “like dragon’s ooze”—mimics a hero’s journey as he vanquishes foes and fears, among them the dreaded potty monster, on the way to his final destination: the kitchen. To his horror, he discovers that the family is out of snacks, rendering his perilous journey moot—or is it? For when Sir Julian, left with no other options, tries the dreadful dinner, he finds it…not bad. Perhaps the real quest is being open to trying new things. Food avoidance, bathroom fears, and nighttime worry are familiar and welcome themes in picture books, and this one, though a bit predictable, is no exception. Digital art effectively depicts Sir Julian’s wide range of emotions, from trepidation to terror to triumph, but feels a bit artificial. Adult readers assessing (among other things) how loud this nighttime journey must have been may wonder where the grown-ups in this book are, but kids will enjoy comic nods like the overly dramatic depiction of the unfamiliar—and therefore—monstrous dinner. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An enjoyable, if well-trod, adventure. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews