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Summary
Summary
When picky eater Felix finds himself in a pickle, his best friend, Fiona, gently helps him widen his culinary horizons.
Felix brings the same lunch to school every day: sprouts on buttered oat bread. He will also eat pasta with butter. And he loves macaroni and cheese. No need to try anything new. But on the night of his friend Fiona's half-birthday celebration, Felix finds himself facing down an unfamiliar -- and anxiety-provoking -- menu. Will he leave the restaurant hungry, or can Fiona convince him to give new tastes a try? With singular compassion and humor, Rosemary Wells once again shows how the balm of friendship can help buffer a familiar moment of childhood angst.
Author Notes
Rosemary Wells was born in New York City on January 29, 1943. She studied at the Museum School in Boston. Without her degree, she left school at the age of 19 to get married. She began her career in publishing, working as an art editor and designer first at Allyn and Bacon and later at Macmillan Publishing.
She is an author and illustrator of over 60 books for children and young adults. Her first book was an illustrated edition of Gilbert and Sullivan's I Have a Song to Sing-O. Her other works include Martha's Birthday, The Fog Comes on Little Pig Feet, Unfortunately Harriet, Mary on Horseback, and Timothy Goes to School. She also created the characters of Max and Ruby, Noisy Nora, and Yoko, which are featured in some of her books. She has won numerous awards including a Children's Book Council Award for Noisy Nora in 1974, the Edgar Allan Poe award for two young adult books, Through the Looking Glass and When No One Was Looking, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Shy Charles.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (2)
Horn Book Review
In the guinea pig pals fourth book together (beginning with Felix Stands Tall), cautious Felix steps out of his comfort zone again, cheered on along the way by best friend Fiona. Felix, who is particular about food and has no need to try anything new, feels safe eating at Fionas house because hes sure her mother will make my favorite macaroni and cheeseas she always does! Not this time, Fiona informs him; tonight, they are going out to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate her half-birthday. Kids like Felix will recognize his habit of negative thoughts when confronted with unexpected changes. Wells sensitively portrays Felixs anxiety in both text and art. Hes never labeled as picky or difficult; Fiona is depicted as consistently upbeat and encouraging (frustrated caregivers, take note). Wellss recognizable, friendly watercolor and pencil illustrations gently portray Felixs concerns about the unfamiliar without allowing them to overwhelm the story. At storys end, despite his fears, Felix gamely eats twelve new things! Food-averse kids probably wont experience such instant and dramatic results, but they will likely be comforted to see that they arent alone in their food fears. kitty Flynn September/October 2019 p.75(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
As a birthday dinner at a restaurant approaches, Felix puts his trust in his best friend, Fiona, to guide him past his food neophobia. Every day, Felix brings the same sandwich to school for lunch: sprouts on buttered oat bread. It seems Fiona has a more robust appetite, chowing down on an enchilada with hot sauce. Throughout the day, Felix worries about Fiona's upcoming half-birthday sleepover, specifically dinner out at a restaurant. He would much rather have Fiona's mom's macaroni and cheese. Fiona keeps mentioning different unusual restaurants, filling his mind with imagined plates of unpleasantness. His anxiety increases as fish with staring eyes and open mouths, liver-enriched sausage, and flaming hot pans appear in his thought bubbles. At the restaurant, Fiona considerately orders a dish she thinks Felix will like: snow peas. He envisions a pile of ice cubes. Without disapproval or exaggeration, Wells quietly addresses the common discomfort of selective eating disorder and eases Felix through the situation with kindness. His journey to the other side is cause for celebration. As with the other titles in this tender series, Wells illustrates how a young person facing a problem can be comforted with the balm of friendship.Fans of these sweet guinea pigs will smile at another one of life's small victories. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.