Fish and worm

PreS-Gr 4--When Fish is told by Mom to eat Worm, Fish points out a preference for cake. Mom states that cake comes later. The worm negotiates her way into not being eaten. The two become friends and have cake at the end. This is a charming beginner reader graphic novel that teaches manners with the usage of "May I," "Please," "Thank you," and "Sorry." When asked if Fish is playing with food, Fish comes clean immediately. It also introduces ways of negotiating and compromising. The limited color palette keeps the focus on the two characters. The humor is reminiscent of Mo Willems's "Piggie and Gerald" stories. VERDICT For transitional readers, a great "first" graphic novel offering tidy etiquette lessons and brimming with wit. --Ruth Guerrier-Pierre

An unappetizing lunch becomes an appetizing friend in this tale of an uncommon friendship between a fish and his intended meal. Visual literacy and easy reading come together once more thanks to the magic of comics and sequential art. Little Fish doesn't want to eat a slimy invertebrate for lunch when there's cake to be had, but his mom is insistent. "First you eat your worm." Disgruntled but willing, Fish is just about to take a bite when Worm pleads for her life. After a quick explanation that Worm is not tasty and will only give Fish a bellyache, the two play a game of tag before making their bodies into shapes. When Mom gets an inkling that Fish is playing with his food, she once more instructs him to eat Worm. But Fish stands firm, and, upon seeing that the two are friends, she relents, offering cake for all. After all, "it tastes better than a worm." Other than the rare three-syllable word like suddenly, the bulk of the text is kept relatively simple for new readers. In Ruzzier's customary watercolors, Worm doesn't look yummy in the least (but she is rather adorable). Parents may balk at a book that encourages kids to talk their ways out of meals they don't want to eat, but unless your broccoli engages you in conversation, the comparison is moot. Reading comes easy when comics and sea critters come in fun packages. (Graphic early reader. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.