Young children often live up to their notoriety as picky eaters, but few young diners are as particular as the impish title characters of Mary Ann Hoberman’s The Seven Silly Eaters. At once familiar and ridiculous in their tastes, each of the seven Peters children survives solely on one chosen food or beverage. Soon, the constant demands for fresh-squeezed lemonade (for Lucy), homemade bread (for sweet Mary Lou), and lump-free oatmeal (for Mac, who dumps any lumps on the family cat)  begin to take their toll on Mrs. Peters, the clan matriarch.

By the end of the story, however, the seven young Peters discover dish that is both the perfect surprise for their mother’s birthday and the perfect solution to their culinary disagreements. Along with the unexpected ending, The Seven Silly Eaters is graced with a bouncing rhyme scheme, truly enjoyable characters, and bursting-with-life illustrations by Marla Frazee. The Seven Silly Eaters is delectable story that can be savored again and again by readers old and young alike.

Recommended for readers of all ages.