It’s Friday and here’s my choice for Perfect Picture Book Fridays:
How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans
By David LaRochelle
Pictures by Mark Fearing
Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2013
Fiction
Suitable for ages: 3 and up
Themes/Topics: Picky Eater, Family
Opening Line: Every Tuesday evening Martha’s family had green beans for dinner.
Synopsis from Amazon: Martha HATES green beans. When some mean, green bandits stroll into town, anyone who ever said “Eat your green beans” is in big trouble. But when the beans kidnap Martha’s parents, Martha is forced to take action. She can think of only one way to stop the villainous veggies from taking over her town, and it’s not pretty … or tasty. Featuring absurdly funny text and illustrations with attitude, this is a hilarious read for everyone – even the pickiest of eaters.
Link to resources: Play with your food — act out how Martha saves her parents! David LaRochelle has a links to coloring pages and how to make a “Wanted” poster for mean beans.
Why I like this book: We are going through a food stage that includes little love for vegetables. We read this first at the dinner table before serving green beans. We didn’t plan that, but it worked out nicely. If mean green beans kidnap us, I’m not sure Enzo would do what Martha did in the book! In other words, we’d be tied up in a cave for a very, very, very long time. I’m sure he’ll eat green beans one day.
For more PPBF selections, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
How is everyone doing with the PiBoIdMo and NaNoWriMo challenges? We are in the middle. I feel like I’m a little saggy, but I am staying on track. I always write down a ton of ideas. No joke, I’m at around 75 and have one draft written. I owe a lot of ideas to the day of sickness. Not much else to do but think and tap out ideas on the iPhone.
This sounds perfect for my fussy eaters. Great find, Stacy and wowsers that’s a lot of ideas. Hope you are feeling better.
It’s a unique idea. Yes. Lots of them, but will one be the one? Yes. Better thanks.
Hope those mean beans don’t squash anyone or “beet” them up! Oh wait – it’s a picture book so there will be a clever, non-violent solution!
I know you will power through the month – hang in there!
I love this book, it is so funny! 75 ideas is pretty impressive, plus a draft! Good for you, that’s great! I have a lot of ideas (not 75) but am tempted to delete the ones that sound goofy. We’ll see how it goes!
The goofy ones may be the best one. I never said they were good ideas, just ideas!
This book is a riot, although every time I see the cover I think asparagus instead of green beans. (message would be the same for both anyway!)
Maybe that’s the sequel. Mean beans vs. asparagus.
Sounds like a very funny book! I grew up loving vegetable because we planted and picked them out of the garden. As far a green beans of any vegetable a kid doesn’t like, I learned to put them in a blender/food processor and puree them. Freeze serving proportions in a cupcake holder and then put in single servings in a freezer bag. You can thaw the portions and hide them in the foods he may like — spaghetti sauce, etc. You can really be creative and he won’t know the difference. 🙂
That’s a good idea Patricia. We do this with some recipes. It’s a challenge. True about he won’t notice with these small hidden vegetables.
LOVE THIS BOOK!
It’s a fun one.
Green beans was always one of my cough-it-up-into-a-napkin foods.
I think I’m gonna have to get this book for me.
I had issues with green beans as a kid. This may be why I like it on so many different levels.
This is too funny, Stacy. . .and I love the title!
It is a great title Jarm.
Great choice, Stacy. I loved How Martha Saved Her Parents From Green Beans too. Incorporates elements of the Western genre is so clever. If you are looking for a triple serving of tasty vegetables, you could pair this book with Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds.
Love the pairing suggestions Marcie!
I LOVE green beans!! I would eat them all! Sounds like a pretty good book!
I like beans, but not the mean ones.
Green beans? (shudder) Sounds like a great book, Stacy! Maybe if it had been around when I was Enzo’s age, I might have learned to like them.
You’ll have to read the ending to find out if you would learn to like them ….
I love green beans and this sounds awesomely silly!
Awesomely Silly is a great way to describe it.
I’m always on the lookout for books that handle “healthy eating” issues in a fun way. I’ll DEFINITELY check this one out. Thanks!
It has a healthy eating end with a little twist.
Great Book. I can see many parents, snapping this one up. Cool choice Stacey.
We’ve read it so much, I think Hubby was trying to save himself from green beans at the grocery store!
Love this choice, Stacy, as the mom of a VERY picky eater (who you’ll be happy to know outgrew his food prejudices at age 12 when he started to grow :)) I was sold on the title alone! Can’t wait to read this one!
I know you’ll like it Susanna. I have to wait until 12! Oh my!
Reading about greens and eating them -what a great idea. Though if green beans kidnap, not sure if I would eat them… LOL. Best wishes on all your writing. So prolific, my friend!
Once eaten … I don’t think they come back … unless there’s a sequel to the book.
You’d think I’d get tired of eat-your-vegetables books, but I never do!
Congrats on your idea notebook, even though you think you’re a little slow. This is only my second year. I thought I was a freak for getting 82 ideas last year. Thanks for sharing your number. I am a little slower this year, but feel I have more good ideas. I haven’t counted yet . . . guess I’d better do that soon. Thanks, Stacy.
Joanne, I am also writing title and log lines for my ideas this year. It’s a way to push myself. I thought it would slow me down on the number. So far … not the problem. I had a very busy weekend, so my ideas/loglines trickled in.
This does sound hilarious and I LOVE hilarious books. It’s on my list!
It is and I’m happy to report that kiddo ate some green beans tonight as we encouraged a repeate of what Martha does in the book. Made for a fun dinner.
My kids LOVE this one!
I know it’s a super awesome book!