PAPIMENTO AND THE CHOCOLATE MOUNTAINS

Benaroch Light’s fantasy adventure blends lessons about fairness and friendship with a taste of Swiss chocolate magic.

Meet Papimento, a young olive-skinned boy who longs to play in the snow with his diverse group of friends, who aren’t especially interested in letting a girl join in the fun (“Girls are not allowed!”). But first, he must bring a bag of flour to his mother, who’s busy baking. He buys a chocolate bar on his errand, and when he takes a bite (“the chocolate went soft and gooey on his tongue”) he’s transported to the snowy Swiss Alps. There, he meets green-eyed Emma, a fearless skier, and together they set out to find the legendary chocolate mountains, which might help Papimento find his way home. Their trek through avalanches and icy slopes eventually boosts the boy’s self-assurance, especially after he witnesses Emma’s bravery and kindness. Instead of resenting her skill, though, he learns from it, and he conveys this worthy message (albeit a little clunkily) to his friends: “Girls can be strong and brave. They also know how to be good friends.” Coelho’s illustrations saturate the page and glow with bright whites and warm browns, contrasting cold landscapes with the inviting richness of chocolate. Additional resources include a recipe for chocolate cake and information about how chocolate is made.

A luxuriously illustrated tale that exemplifies the rewards of kindness.