EAT YOUR PEAS

Frazzled mom and determined daughter face off in an escalating battle of wills—and legumes. At first, Mom calmly tells young Daisy to eat her peas. Daisy’s stern response (“I don’t like peas.”) triggers a spate of bargaining, amusingly illustrated. The illustrations have an appealing simplicity, basic shapes and bold colors. Daisy’s increasing stubbornness is communicated by the progressive enlargement of her face on the page. And her response doesn’t change; it becomes a chant for young listeners (and offers a teaching opportunity about listening). The bribes spin out of control—48 desserts, 100, a chocolate factory—and the rows of depicted offerings provide a great counting opportunity for pre-school classrooms. A final surprise twist should delight all. Gray’s minimalist approach is perfectly in sync with young audiences. The first of the now numerous Daisy books (others include You Do! and A Bunch of Daisies), first published in England in 2000. (Picture book. 3-6)