Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating
Illustrator: Scott Magoon
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2007 ISBN: 978-0618556441
Katerina-Elizabeth is going to take a long voyage on an ocean liner so that she can visit her grandmother who lives in Scotland. Unfortunately Katerina-Elizabeth's parents have planned out her meals for her. They are the kind of people who think that porridge is good for children, and Katerina-Elizabeth is told that she is going to have to eat porridge every morning while she is on board the ship. Katerina-Elizabeth hates porridge and so she tosses the offensive stuff out of the nearest porthole.
What Katerina-Elizabeth does not know is that far below, at the bottom of the ocean, a little sea worm comes across the porridge (which sank like a stone) and the tiny creature eats every last bit of it. Indeed the worm thinks that the porridge is delicious. Being a bright little creature it decides to follow Katerina- Elizabeth's ship. Perhaps more porridge will fall its way.
The worm's hopes are justly rewarded, and every morning it gets a whole bowl of Katerina-Elizabeth's porridge. With every bowl that it eats the worm gets larger and larger until it no longer qualifies to be called a worm at all. Instead it most definitely is what most of us would call a monster.
This wonderfully sweet (and enlightening) picture book is a must for all picky eaters, and monster lovers. It is also a must for anyone who has ever wondered how the Loch Ness acquired its monster.
With deliciously quirky artwork and a story which is funny and entertaining, this is a picture book which is sure to become a firm favorite.
Readers are advised to take a look at the special author's note in the back cover of the book. It addresses, with delightful humor, the science of picky eaters, it even even tells readers how they can determine if they are a ""supertaster."" It does not, however, address the science behind the Loch Ness Monster. Readers will have to look elsewhere for that. Or they can take a trip to Scotland.
