THE BOY WHO BURPED

A junk food–loving family learns the value of eating healthy and getting exercise in this picture book debut.

The Everyday family prefers being inside to exercising outdoors. Brother loves video games and chocolate; Sister eats candy and plays with her phone all day; Momma watches TV while eating ice cream; and Daddy spends the day on his computer, drinking soda. Their habits lead to embarrassing noises: Brother burps, Sister sneezes, Momma hiccups, and Daddy “toots.” One day, the whole family seems zombielike. Brother, who feels isolated, turns to the family dog for companionship, and they spend the day outside. Afterward, Brother drinks water, eats a healthy dinner, and is surprised how good he feels—and that he has no more burps. The next day, he makes a healthy breakfast for his family, says, “Let’s do something together,” and rescues his family from unhealthy routines (and gasses). Lewis’ over-the-top characterization of the Everyday family will make young readers giggle. Brother’s agency shows that even the youngest family members can help turn a family’s problems around. It’s simplistic but effectively bolsters the overt message. The simple text feels lengthy on some pages, but the vocabulary includes only a few challenging words (beverage, quirks). Włodarski’s large-headed, big-eyed, full-color cartoon figures, and their body-function sound effects, amp up the comedy.

A goofy, gassy tale with an obvious but important moral.