YOUNG READERS Atlantic Books Today
Young readers’ reviews by Jo-Anne Elder and Lisa Doucet
UN MONSTRE DANS MA CUISINE / RECIPE FOR A MONSTER
Marie-France Comeau and Isabelle Léger Bouton d’or Acadie (Ages 4-8)
Sheree Fitch brought us giggly rhymes about the monkeys in her kitchen; now Marie-France Comeau shows us a monster in the kitchen that a young child learns to tame. When a little boy gets up in the morning, his grandmother is baking bread. Set on the counter to rise, the dough gets bigger and stranger by the minute. The child’s worry turns to curiosity as Grandma Rosi teaches him how to mix and knead the dough. They play cards while they wait for it to rise and then bake. Grandma Rosi is Rosi Jory, a colourful and lively writer and long-time German teacher—one of UNB Saint John’s first fulltime faculty members—who died in 2017 and to whom Comeau dedicates the story.
MR. BEAGLE GOES TO RABBITTOWN
Lori Doody Running the Goat Books & Broadsides (Ages 3-5)
When Mr. Beagle decides to set up shop in Rabbittown, business at his convenience store is not exactly brisk. The bunnies of Rabbittown, a likeable and friendly bunch generally speaking, are not entirely sure what to make of their new neighbour. But when mittens start mysteriously disappearing, Mr. Beagle has plenty of time on his hands and “a good nose for sniffing out trouble.” As he scours the town for clues, his investigative efforts lead to another recent newcomer, Tom Cat, who had disguised himself as a bunny in order to fit in. With the mystery solved, and the citizens of Rabbittown happy to help Tom Cat in his ongoing quest for mittens (for his three little kittens, of course), Mr. Beagle and the Cat clan find themselves warmly welcomed into their new home at last. Lori Doody’s latest picture-book offering provides all the warmth and whimsy that fans of her work have come to expect and cherish. The story is spare and simply told but not too subtle
With the added charm of puns and Isabelle Léger’s bright pictures of the flour-and-yeast monster that turns into a delicious loaf of bread, this book invites children to experiment with kitchen chemistry. The story connects baking to the old-fashioned pleasure of adults and children spending time together at home. It seems particularly appropriate that this book will appear during the COVID-19 outbreak, when children may have joined in the bread-baking rituals with their parents or grandparents. This book is intended for francophone children aged 4 to 8 or up to Grade 5 French Immersion. Of course, children of any age would have lots of fun if a teacher or parent baked bread with them. The book includes the recipe and pictures of the instructions. Marie-France Comeau has written several delightful books including the much-loved Diego l’Escargot and À dos d’amour for young children and Le Départ de Julie, a book for all ages about the Acadian Deportation. JO-ANNE ELDER has translated more than 20 works of poetry, theatre, film, fiction and non-fiction from French to English and has been shortlisted for a Governor General’s Literary Award for translation three times.
to convey vital messages about acceptance, being yourself and the importance of community. True to form, the illustrations tell their own story with bold, bright colours and delicate, dark outlines. Each page is precise and detailed (including the delightful endpapers), featuring a flat perspective that lends itself well to the understated tone of the tale. Together, words and images radiate a cheerful energy and optimism that will delight children and adults alike in this playful, quirky tale. Without feeling didactic or heavy handed, the residents of Rabbittown learn a valuable lesson about inclusion, which leads to a deeply satisfying ending whereby Rabbittown had become “a neighbourhood where any bunny, dog, cat, mouse, squirrel or fox could find new friends and warm mittens.” Who wouldn’t want to live there? NUMBER 92 | FALL 2020
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