The Seven Silly Eaters, Mary Ann Hoberman

The Seven Silly Eaters, Mary Ann Hoberman

(Preschool - Grade 1)

This lyrical picture book had my son and me chuckling from the very first page. He requests it often, and I am happy to oblige. The story begins with a sweet husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Peters, who patiently cater to their son Peter's (that's right, Peter Peters) preference for warm milk and penchant for throwing it on the floor. Soon, daughter Lucy is born and she demands homemade pink lemonade over all other beverages. So, Mrs. Peters presses on... squeezing lemons, mopping up milk, and all the while shaking her head at her "silly pair of eaters." The years pass and Jack, Mac, Mary Lou, Flo and Fran join the Peters clan. As predicted, they each have specific food requests. Soon, Mrs. Peters moves from "silly" to "foolish" and "fussy" when describing her brood. The overworked mama will soon have a birthday, and her children hatch a secret plan to celebrate that may just solve their picky-eater problems. The illustrations are fetching and call for attentive reading to catch the funny details. Parents will nod in recognition of the frantic household and may find comic relief for their fussy mealtime woes. 

To find this book in our library, go to our website at www.newberglibrary.org.

Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff