Spaghetti and Peas

Gary Gautier
All About Kids Publishing (2001)
ISBN 0970086369
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (8/06)

Gary Gautier has written a superb book titled “Spaghetti and Peas.”  Children and adults tend to fear snakes but in this delightful tale the snakes are friends.

“Some snakes might bite in the park or the woods, but not Jane and her babies, they love us for good.”

While Rachel’s dad cooks spaghetti and peas, Rachel goes to the back yard for an adventure.  Rachel meets a teary-eyed mother snake that is searching for her babies.  Where could they be?  So begins the search for the missing baby snakes.  They look in the garden and yard but no babies are there.    Finally they find the babies in Rachel’s toy box.  The babies are so happy, they wrap themselves around Rachel’s fingers.  Marie from next door comes for a visit.  Marie, Rachel and all the snakes play together.

I’ve always had a great fear of snakes and usually avoid any book containing one.   However, I enjoyed this book immensely. The story is told in a light-hearted, cheerful rhyme and the illustrations are bright and colorful.   The snakes’ come to life through the descriptive manner in which Mr. Gautier describes them.   The illustration of Jane with the daisies in her mouth is endearing.  This would make a great addition to any young child’s library.  It will be finding it’s way into my granddaughter’s library soon.

Make comment on weblog