Avocado Asks

Avocado Asks

A deliciously funny book about identity and being confident in your own skin—featuring the world's most popular superfood, the avocado! Avocado is feeling just fine in the produce section at the supermarket until a young customer asks a difficult question: "Is an avocado a fruit or a vegetable?" Avocado doesn't know the answer either, and the question won't seem to go away! Soon, Avocado is in the midst of a full-on identity crisis. Children will laugh along as Avocado hunts for answers in each aisle of the grocery store, chatting with fish, cans of beans, sausages, and finally a tomato, who confides to Avocado that he doesn't know what HE is either, adding "And. I. Don't. Care." With cool, vivid artwork and a funny twist on every page, here is a story that celebrates individuality and fluidity, letting children know they are perfect just as they are and however they choose to express themselves. PreS-K-Avocado is enjoying life in the supermarket, until one day they wonder: Are they a fruit or a vegetable? After being rejected by the fruits and veggies, the avocado goes to find what they are, and learns a bit about self-confidence along the way. In this story, Abe offers a delightful tale of finding one's place using objects and foods children are familiar with. The vocabulary is perfect for younger kids who can use the illustrations to help them read, and the text stands apart from the drawings. Text and design are so intertwined that the story feels like a young reader's graphic novel on some pages, providing visual context clues with the character's expressions and surroundings. The designs themselves are also pretty, with the main characters always being shown in contrast to the grocery section on display. Overall, Abe has created a nice trip to the grocery store about avocados, tomatoes, and confidence in oneself. VERDICT A delightful tale to help readers figure out where they belong, and, if a wise tomato is any indication, why that question may not even matter.-Margaret Kennelly, Media Specialist, Indian Head Elem. Sch., MDα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. ★ 2024 Illinois Monarch Award Readers Choice List "A delightful tale to help readers figure out where they belong, and, if a wise tomato is any indication, why that question may not even ­matter." — School Library Journal "A tale that will entertain young readers for its witty wordplay. . . . This amusing book will tickle ribs and provoke thought in equal measure. . . . A charmingly fruitful journey.— Kirkus "A smorgasbord of food puns makes this whimsical romp through the grocery store a true treat. . . . A celebration of nonconformity."— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books MOMOKO ABE was born in Japan and has been drawing ever since she can remember. At age twenty, she moved to England to study filmmaking, and still works there in the TV and film industry. Avocado Asks is her debut picture book. See more of her work at momokoabe.com and follow her on Instagram at @momokodoodles.