Kneading a Winning Idea: A Book on the Importance of Practice

Written by Terri Sabol

Illustrated by Pei Jen

I love the play on words for the title! Ben likes to bake. Every year he enters a contest with his buttermilk biscuits but never comes in first. Sofia is his fiercest rival.

When Ben’s father asks him if he will compete again, Ben decides he must make a change in his recipe to come out on top so he experiments by leaving out different ingredients. Then his cat gives him an idea. After trying it out, Ben’s father proclaims it a big success.

Can Ben finally achieve his dream of winning the contest with his buttermilk biscuits this year?

This book teaches elementary school readers that they must face their feelings and persevere until their desired goal is met. Patience is a virtue most young children find difficult to cultivate.

This book is a good start and readers receive a delicious bonus biscuit recipe as well.

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The Hungriest Dragon A Tale of Food and Friendship

Written by Kimberly Segraves

Illustrated by Peipei Liu

Lyric had just moved to a new neighborhood. He goes to the playground daily, but on one is ever there and he has been unable to find a friend. One day Lyric hears a growling noise. A red dragon steps out of the bushes. Frightened, Lyric falls from the slide ladder and finds the dragon standing over him. They strike up a conversation. Lyric invites the dragon to his house, but Dragon-Fire is most interested in meeting his pet cat. When they get to the house, Lyric finds his mother napping and his new friend doing his best to eat his cat, Dolly. Lyric tries to distract the dragon from her objective by enticing her with other types of foods, but nothing seems to work. Then Lyric’s mother wakes up and together they hatch a plot.

This story has a page count under seventy and bright colorful illustrations. It appears to be targeted to elementary school children. A few points in the plot concern me. Lyric goes alone to the playground day after day, his mother is home napping while he is away and he does not wake her when he gets home. It seems strange that there are never any children at the playground; no mention is made of school or other community sites where children gather. No doubt this book might appeal to children who like dragons or those who feel lonely after a new move, but I think the narrative might upset some children to see a pet cat chased and tied up. The idea of a lonely boy finding a friend is a good starting point, but the tale veers off in strange directions. I would recommend that parents and teachers read first and be prepared to answer their children’s questions.

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