Mealtime mayhem is the focus of this spirited look at a familiar scene. With one determined spoonful at a time, a harried mother feeds her rascally baby. As mother coaxes the food past stubborn little lips, chipper rhymes describe each body part that will benefit from the nutrition. “One little taste / for a hungry tum. / Open the door, / and down it goes. / YUM!” When mealtime is over, the food-spattered mom and tot need to clean up before they’re ready for another adventure. Aliki neatly works the import of the verses into the artwork. Perched in the high chair with a stuffed monkey, the child points to the featured body part mentioned on both himself and his toy, providing ample opportunity for little ones to learn to identify the basics of their own anatomies. A vivid array of colors, ranging from the tropical blue of the high-chair pad to the deep yellow of baby’s playsuit, captures the reader’s eye. Familiar scenarios comically depicting baby’s various grimaces and wanton flinging about of food are sure to elicit giggles from both sides of the food wars. All the fun and messiness a tot could want—without the tedious cleanup. (Picture book. 1-3)
