Stickiest, Fluffiest, Crunchiest: Super Superlatives

PreS-Gr 2—This latest addition to Brocket's concept book series is an attractive but lackluster attempt at explaining superlatives through food. The gorgeous photos will whet readers' appetites. The text is presented in a childlike scrawl and makes use of interesting vocabulary, such as deliciously goopy and wobbliest. The foods mentioned include carrots, artichokes, and whole fish, as well as durian fruit, sweet custard doughnuts, and gummy candies. Brocket makes use of many different superlatives: readers will learn about the stickiest, smelliest, crunchiest, and prickliest foods, and so on. However, the final spread, which reads, "Superlative foods are super in so many different ways," doesn't quite follow from the opening sentence, "Superlatives are words we use to compare things." Brocket focuses more on food photos than on actual comparisons; it's unclear how much children will learn, though they may appreciate a read just before lunch.