We received this book as a gift many years ago and read its pages over and over again! This is one of those that kids instantly fall in love with. It has playful poetics, funny antics, and delightfully busy illustrations that engage readers of all ages. This is the story of the Peters family: Mr. Peters, Mrs. Peters, and their seven children. Unfortunately for Mrs. Peters, all seven of her darling children are very picky eaters. (I wish I couldn't relate.) Only, with these kiddos, there is a catch. None of the kids like to eat the same thing. Each child likes to eat something completely different - one child will only eat freshly baked bread, one only applesauce made from the apples in their front yard tree. Poor Mrs. Peters is left to scramble around the kitchen making seven individual breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. As the story goes on, Mrs. Peters gets pretty tired, to say the least. Her children decide to make her a special birthday meal, and their mom is pleasantly surprised.
The Seven Silly Eaters is written by children's poet laureate, Mary Ann Hoberman. The illustrations by Marla Freeze just crack me up, and I think any parent that has struggled to get their kids to eat their dinner will get a laugh too. Mrs. Peter's facial expressions are just so easy to relate to! I love when picture books are written in poetry lines and rhymes. Rhyming lines not only engage younger readers but also have shown in studies to aid in early literacy ability.
