Bob McMahon

I freely admit that I don't really "get" the obsession with talking food. However, it's a real thing that kids love - we recently read some of Terry Border's books in book club and there's been a whole slew of titles in this vein this year.

This latest series introduces two opposites - shy Broccoli and extrovert Cookie - who meet up on the first day of school. In four short chapters and an epilogue, the two meet, have some initial confusion and disagreement, and eventually make a whole group of friends, banding together to make each other better. Along the way, they get the vegetables and baked goods together, play a joke on a talking rock, and form a shy friends club.

The art mainly features yellow Cookie and green Broccoli, both with big cartoon eyes, but Cookie with a large, generous mouth (with teeth) and Broccoli with a smaller mouth, suited to their quieter nature. There's lots of wacky text in large fonts and with silly decorations, especially when the two start making silly noises. There's not a lot of detail, but in some panels which include other creatures there are a lot of silly jokes in their speech bubbles (a waffle says they're too shy to talk to their Belgian cousin) and a cynical blueberry occasionally interjects wry commentary.

As I said, I personally am not a huge fan of the talking food thing. What do they eat for lunch? What happens when they start rotting or crumbling? I find it difficult to suspend my disbelief. At least the author didn't assign genders to the food, which I appreciate. I also didn't care for the implication that Broccoli needs to be "fixed" because they're shy - although Cookie suggests that Broccoli can help them by "stopping me when I get too loud and silly." there's no actual signs that this is a thing that happens. However, most of these are really adult concerns, not things that will jump out at kids.

Verdict: This is a fun beginning chapter graphic novel series that will appeal to fans of Terry Border, Charise Mericle Harper, and Elephant and Piggie. Librarians looking to bolster their beginning chapter book offerings in the graphic novel realm will want to be sure to get this new series.

ISBN: 9780593109076; Published July 2020 by Dial; Borrowed from another library in my consortium… (més)