(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lauren Gallegos. A cheesemonger's son and a fruit-seller's daughter are forbidden to communicate since their feuding families find each other's products unappetizing. But when Rubio and Julienne collide during their deliveries, the mishap results in the delicious pairing of fruit and cheese--and a collaborative new business. The amusing epicurean story makes a few tongue-in-cheek Shakespearean references, and the cartoony illustrations appear set in Italy. Recipes appended.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bruce Ingman. When mice eat a chunk of Swiss cheese, the two leftover holes become homeless. They try to take up residence in the king's sock, the queen's undies, and so on, but must flee before they're sewn up, etc. Finally, they prove their usefulness in a pair of royal flutes. It's a fresh premise, but the art occasionally looks incomplete.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Who Made My Lunch? series. Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman. In each book, a child prepares to eat something but first learns how the food is produced by being transported to various places involved. The second-person texts cover countries of origin, growing and harvesting conditions, and processing details. Simple, engaging illustrations featuring a diverse cast of kids will appeal to young readers. Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these Who Made My Lunch? titles: From Cocoa Beans to Chocolate, From Grapes to Jelly, From Milk to Cheese, From Milk to Ice Cream, From Peanuts to Peanut Butter, and From Wheat to Bread.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Translated by David Henry Wilson. When a wheel of cheese rolls off a cart, over a cliff, and lands in Mr. Squirrel's tree, Mr. Squirrel concludes that someone stole the moon and left it with him. A frantic brown squirrel and an enormous yellow "moon" stand out against intricate black-and-white illustrations, including several wordless spreads that contribute to the quiet tone of this gently humorous German import.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures series. A clean design and clear texts make these books solid, basic nonfiction choices. The appealing photographs feature a diverse group of people working or enjoying the products. The occasionally awkward writing ("In the kitchen, gardeners become bakers") doesn't fully diminish the interesting overall concept of explaining how food and spices are made. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Start to Finish, Second Series: Nature's Treasures titles: From Goat to Cheese, From Pumpkin to Pie, From Sea to Salt, From Strawberry to Jam, and From Sugar Beet to Sugar.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) PS Patrick the elephant fears lots of things; his big, strong dad seems to fear nothing. However, when a mouse from the so-called "Cheese Inspection Council" shows up at their door, Dad cowers behind the couch. Patrick welcomes the black-masked rodent inside, where it proceeds to steal their cheese--and everything in the house. The cartoon illustrations enhance character and humor in the story.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Viviane Schwarz. According to "Rat Law," the cheese belongs to you--unless a quicker, stronger, scary, etc. rat wants it. Thus begins the cumulative tale of adjectives building to the "boss of the biggest, quickest, strongest, scariest, hairiest, dirtiest rats" who's in charge of the cheese. (Unless...) Humorous digitally colored red-pencil sketches of thieving white rats carry the tale in which manners ultimately prevail.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dorothy Donohue. When Farmer Jones and his family, who live in the Dell, find their cheese has been stolen, they call bloodhound Sherlock Bones, who "can solve any crime, anywhere, any time." Sherlock uses all his senses to track the pizza-making giant on top of a beanstalk. Bold and distinctive cut-paper illustrations complement the lively text, with its playful intermittent rhymes.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Super Simple Recipes series. Each volume contains eight creative kid-geared recipes preceded by pages introducing the titular base ingredient, cooking tools, measurements, and basic kitchen skills. The recipes are of varying degrees of difficulty, though all are manageable with some adult help. Color photos correspond with the simple step-by-step directions and also show the final scrumptious-looking products. Glos. Review covers these Super Simple Recipes titles Let's Cook With Apples!, Let's Cook with Cereal!, Let's Cook with Cheese!, and Let's Cook with Eggs!.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Walrod. Imagine being a mouse who can't eat cheese. After Dolores breaks out in itchy spots and starts to sneeze, Doctor Ricotta confirms the worst: she's allergic. Walrod's illustrations of the three mouseketeer pals keep things lively with dialogue balloons and occasional comic-strip panels, while Howe's story sensibly avoids a fromage-y ending. Kids with food allergies will admire Dolores's take-charge attitude.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2009

(4) K-3 Start to Finish series. These books are designed to give beginning readers information as to how ordinary products are produced. Each text is enhanced by color photographs that children will find helpful. However, the brief, simplistic style fails to yield depth of information. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Start to Finish titles: From Cane to Sugar, From Peanut to Peanut Butter, From Grass to Milk, and From Milk to Cheese.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(2) K-3 Illustrated by S. D. Schindler. When the folks in Cheshire, Massachusetts, home of Cheshire cheese, "the best you can serve at your table," learned that a Connecticut town was the favored cheddar supplier to President Thomas Jefferson, they decided to make him a 1,235-pound cheddar as a gift. This actual historical event--proof that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction--is documented in a reportorial, tongue-in-cheek style, extended in droll, elegantly limned illustrations.

Reviewer: Mary M. Burns | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1999