Readers will want to make room at the table for the snappy anthropomorphic snacks in this brief, greeting card--like book, all of which serve up encouragement and punny jokes galore. Holt adroitly transforms photographs of real-life food items into characters with simple but emotive faces. A running ravioli ("wheee!") dashes by the quip "Don't let life pasta you by"; the taco on the cover promises, "This is NACHO average advice book"; and a wide-eyed wiener in a bun exclaims, "Glad I could ketchup with you!" Bold page colors and large-print words in a zingy font help make this a satisfyingly silly reading repast, ideal for handing to new grads or anyone in need of a mood boost. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)

Gr 1--3--"Don't let life pasta you by." In a pun-tastic self-esteem booster, glossy food items--mostly veggies--with dot- or googly-eyed faces pose and cavort on monochrome pages next to conventional but tweaked, typographically loud aphorisms. The wordplay isn't limited to puns, as Holt offers readers helpful "asparagus tips" like "be yourself" and "please shower," as well as assurances from a bright yellow citrus fruit that some days are lemons and then, from strips of bacon, that some will leave you "sizzled." Nonetheless, he avers, it's always possible to find a "raisin to smile." Consider this a fruitful side dish to Saxton Freymann's How Are You Peeling?: Foods with Moods, Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Little Pea, and a main dish in a "food for thought" story time. VERDICT The combination of delicious wordplay and nutritious advice adds up to a happy meal for younger librivores.--John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York

This pun-filled pep talk starring fruits and veggies is a lot to digest. Do you enjoy the feel-good humor of a motivational poster? Do off-brand, pun-filled greeting cards inspire you? If you've answered yes to both questions, then this is the book for you! Photographs of various food items from avocados to ravioli lead readers on a tour of punny feel-good platitudes that put the average dad joke to shame. The humor is over-the-top and often groanworthy but may appeal to readers who like their jokes broad. Very, very broad. Each double-page spread features a different edible item transformed into a character with photo-collaged features, accompanied by a motivational phrase that's been adapted to reference the food: A pickle reminds readers that "You're a smarty pants / DILL with it (and we're not GHERKIN AROUND!)" while a red-waxed wheel of cheese (sans a wedge) offers the sage advice that "Life is GOUDA, take it one slice at a time," adding chirpily, "i [sic] have no doubt you'll be grate!" Readers looking for a message deeper than "Always find a raisin to smile!" will quickly be bored by it all; those who like their foodplay served with a hint of sophistication should look instead down the Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers aisle. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.5-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) Definitely an acquired taste. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.