From Publishers Weekly
Soup's on in this tummy-tempting concept book. A very hungry mouse nibbles and crunches his way through the various components of a vegetarian repast, while the text introduces readers to the individual foods and their respective colors. The book's design also allows for some guessing games-each right hand page presents visual and textual clues about what comes next in the progression. The brief, adjective-rich prose lists Mouse's menu-sour purple grapes, juicy pink watermelon with black crunchy seeds-in a large boldface type that is a boon for group sharing (and often a confidence builder for newly independent readers). Mouse with his protruding stomach (much like Templeton the rat in Charlotte's Web) appears on the final page, covered with the feast's rainbow remnants, each smudge labeled to serve as a color/food recap. Fleming's pulp painting technique drenches each page with vibrant hues. A black-andwhite-checked tablecloth appears throughout, further punching up the color contrasts-shiny red apples stand out, even on a red background. Bon appetit! Ages 2-7. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.


School Library Joarnal, starred review
* "A well-designed romp through food and color."


Review
"A well-designed romp through food and color." --School Library Joarnal, starred review



Review
"A well-designed romp through food and color." --School Library Joarnal, starred review



Book Description
It's time for lunch, and one little mouse is famished! In fact, he's so hungry that once he starts eating, he can't stop. He sinks his teeth into a crisp white turnip, gobbles up some orange carrots, devours an ear of yellow corn, then tosses back some tender green peas. He's full, but this mouse keeps on munching until his bulging belly won't hold another bite.

Parents will see their own toddlers in this perky tale, and toddlers won't get enough of the gregarious little mouse. They'll proudly identify the colors of his (and their) favorite foods, and enjoy guessing what fruit or vegetable he'll eat next. Color-savvy readers are sure to spot the rainbow contained in the background pages-- and almost everyone will agree that this is one book about colors that makes the plain old primaries look positively pale!



Card catalog description
A very hungry mouse eats a large lunch comprised of colorful foods.


About the Author
Denise Fleming is the author and illustrator of seven highly acclaimed picture books, including the Caldecott Honor Book In the Small, Small Pond. She lives with her husband in Toledo, Ohio.

ANNOTATION

A very hungry mouse eats a large lunch comprised of colorful foods.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

One hungry mouse peeks out of his hole and sniffs... Lunch! Children can guess what fruit or vegetable comes next as the voracious rodent munches his way through yellow corn, green peas, orange carrots, and the rest of the colors vibrantly represented by Denise Fleming's unique, eye-catching style.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Soup's on in this tummy-tempting concept book. A very hungry mouse nibbles and crunches his way through the various components of a vegetarian repast, while the text introduces readers to the individual foods and their respective colors. The book's design also allows for some guessing games-each right hand page presents visual and textual clues about what comes next in the progression. The brief, adjective-rich prose lists Mouse's menu-sour purple grapes, juicy pink watermelon with black crunchy seeds-in a large boldface type that is a boon for group sharing (and often a confidence builder for newly independent readers). Mouse with his protruding stomach (much like Templeton the rat in Charlotte's Web) appears on the final page, covered with the feast's rainbow remnants, each smudge labeled to serve as a color/food recap. Fleming's pulp painting technique drenches each page with vibrant hues. A black-andwhite-checked tablecloth appears throughout, further punching up the color contrasts-shiny red apples stand out, even on a red background. Bon appetit! Ages 2-7. (Sept.)

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Lunch makes a great transition to board book format. A hungry mouse eats his way through a variety of colorful foods. All of the colors end up on his fur and color the trail to his mouse hole. The humor is depicted in the accumulation of stains (food colors) that cover the mouse and the implied questions as to what the mouse will eat. A visual clue for the next food appears in each scene as well as the food he is currently gorging on. It is a delightful board book that will sate those hungry and observant toddlers. Fleming's hand-made paper illustrations are a feast for the eyes.

BookList - Kathryn Broderick