ALA Booklist

In stories spotlighting disgusting broccoli, smelly lasagna, repulsive milk, lumpy oatmeal, and slimy eggs, this hilarious chapter book details mealtime standoffs between a young boy, James, and his dad. The mixed-media cartoon illustrations extend the humor and drama in scenes of James, who is furious as Dad offers wry alternatives to the food James refuses: We have this very sweaty sock, soaked in sweat sweated by the world's fastest and tastiest runner. As the stories progress, Dad's fantasies get wilder: a troll, who lives in the basement and wears a Kiss the Cook apron, has whipped up the mushroom lasagna; the carton of eggs in the refrigerator are actually dinosaur eggs. In the climax, Dad's stories finally convince James to eat, and in the closing scene, he smiles at his empty plate. Eager and picky eaters alike will enjoy the wordplay and outrageous situations, which create humor from a familiar source of family tension.

Horn Book

Picky little boy James doesn't want any "disgusting broccoli" or "smelly lasagna"; okay, offers his sly father, how about some dirt or pre-chewed gum? When James turns up his nose at "repulsive milk," Dad explains, tongue-in-cheek, what fun it will be to have "nice soft bones." Watercolor, pen-and-ink, and colored-pencil illustrations with plenty of white space display the imaginative scenarios.

Kirkus Reviews

Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. "It's disgusting," says James. Well then, James, says his father, let's consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? "Blech," says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You'll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog's belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James' father parrying his son's every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father's retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent's vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won't be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider's watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James' father's last urging—"I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them"—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3 James is a very picky eater, but after hearing his father's alternatives, he reconsiders. Dad's choices are outrageous and will have children laughing and turning the pages. In the first of five, "The Tale of the Disgusting Broccoli," it's either eat the broccoli or eat dirt "walked on by the most skilled chefs"; "fine gum, carefully chewed"; or a "very sweaty sock." In another tale, James eats mushroom lasagna that "smells funny" because he doesn't want the troll that lives in the basement to lose his job as cook. The sophisticated yet silly humor will appeal to new readers wanting something a little different. The comical illustrations are done in watercolor, ink, and colored pencil and are surrounded by plenty of white space. A perfect segue into chapter books, this easy reader is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Lora Van Marel, Orland Park Public Library, IL