EXOTIC FRUIT

Do you know your fruit? Vibrant digital illustrations and a few interesting facts introduce nine unusual fruits that are literally “exotic,” as in not indigenous to the United States.

On recto, the fruit is seen in its natural form, whole and uncut on a contrasting background, with the name of the fruit coordinated by color (“mangosteen” is written in dark purple, for instance). That word is embedded in a sentence that describes the fruit as it looks and feels from the outside (“DRAGON FRUIT’s bright pink skin and green leaves resemble the body of a Chinese dragon”). Turn the page to see that same fruit cut or peeled, with the inside showing, and simple information about the color, shape, taste, texture, and fragrance of the fruit. (“But inside, [the lychee’s] clear flesh is sugary. Its musky smell can fill up a whole room.”) The region of origin of each fruit is mentioned on the second page along with a “fun fact” or alternative name. All the information is basic and age-appropriate. The digital illustrations are bold, colorful, and realistic. A brief note on the last page mentions where U.S. readers might find these fruits. It’s hard to get a sense of the fruits’ relative sizes, but that is a small gripe and does not detract from the punch of the book.

A great way to vary tots’ reading diets.