Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray (review)
Buy Issue for $25 at JHUP- Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray
Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-328-86683-7 $17.99
E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-358-33076-9 $12.99
Reviewed from galleys R 3-5 yrs
The guide through this food-focused bedtime tale is a jauntily capped earthworm, who burrows under “turnips tucked in tightly./ Potatoes closing eyes.// Tuckeredout tomatoes/humming lullabies,” and passes “cuddly cauliflowers/Droopy pods of peas// Rhubarbs reading stories/to worn-out broccolis.” The playful rhymes poke around with some puns (the beets are simply beat, cabbages nod their sleepy heads, and cranky cornstalks cover their ears), and while this is perfectly suited for [End Page 314] reading aloud, the simple text, solid rhythm, and effective alliteration put this in the reach of beginning readers as well. OHora’s illustrations—“created in 100% vegetarian printmaking paper and acrylic paint”—have a rich earthiness to them, with textured blacks and browns providing the literal groundwork for the split-level compositions that detail both the worm’s travels and more vibrantly colored goings-on above. Even the most veggie-averse kid will appreciate this cute bunch of crudités.
