Review by Booklist Review
This charming story of a young mouse whose appetite for snacks dwarfs mealtimes will resonate with many hungry children--and their frustrated parents. Baby Gertie loves eating all the delicious foods her father prepares. As she grows up, though, she is seduced by the lure of constant (healthy sounding) snacks and is no longer interested in her meals. Instead, she politely demands, "Snack, please!" at all times of day. A trip to Grandma's community garden distracts Gertie long enough to feel hungry for dinner, and she is even motivated to use her harvest to make a festive meal for friends. Gertie's interest in delicious meals, from potlucks to sushi, returns . . . at least until she discovers dessert. Author-illustrator Birkett brings Gertie and her daddy to life amid a community of varied human-size animals. Although Birkett's point about the joy of meals is a bit heavy-handed, the story's humor, charm, and positivity prevent it from feeling too didactic. The perfect distraction from snack time.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A determined snacker breaks her habit. Gertie, a fuzzy blue mouse, loves eating her dad's cooking. In fact, she loves eating just about anything; she even tries to scarf down a slug in the backyard one time (yuck!). But then, Gertie discovers her most favorite food of all: snacks. "Sweet banana chips! Carroty rice cakes! Crunchy, munchy crackers!" Snacks are incredible, as evidenced by the "nom, nom" sounds that ensue when Gertie devours her favorite treats in the bathtub, in bed, on the couch--in short, everywhere. Gertie eats so many snacks that she isn't hungry at mealtime anymore. All she says is "Snack, please!" (One exception is when she's observing the ducks; then she says, "Snack, snack.") Fed up, Daddy takes Gertie to the community garden, where she picks vegetables alongside Grandma. Gertie then helps Daddy make a special meal for her friends. She's so excited that she eats everything on her plate! Taking ownership of what she eats helps Gertie realize how fun food preparation can be. Birkett's big-eyed, softly rounded anthropomorphic animals help the encouraging message go down easily, and the author/illustrator reassuringly notes that "Gertie still eats some snacks, of course. Everyone does, don't they?" A satisfyingly conveyed and empowering message about choosing what to eat.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
