Gazpacho for Nacho

Kyle debuts with the story of a boy named Nacho with a one-track mind when it comes to food: he's only interested in zesty, tomatoey, and lyrically convenient gazpacho. "He didn't like meat or the smell of pescado./ He didn't like chicken or ice-cold helado," writes Kyle as Farias (When Christmas Feels Like Home) paints a forlorn Nacho turning away from a feast of sausages, ham, a foul-looking fish soup, and piles of ice cream. Nacho's protestations take up the sluggish first half of the book; eventually, his fed-up mother--who has been busy cooking up one unsuccessful meal after another--hits on an idea: teaching Nacho to cook his beloved gazpacho. A trip to the market, which Farias whimsically paints as a mountain of giant veggies, leads to a messy afternoon of cooking and new perspective for Nacho. While Kyle's rhymes can get a tad convoluted, Nacho's enthusiasm and the warmth of Farias's paintings should leave readers with a good taste in their mouths. A recipe is included, naturally, as is a glossary for the scattering of Spanish words that appear. Ages 6-up. (Jan.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 3--This is the charming story of a picky eater who only wants one thing to eat--gazpacho. While most parents would be delighted if their children ate this Spanish vegetable-based soup, Nacho's mother desperately tries to offer him other dishes, including typical Spanish desserts, to no avail. In an attempt to get him to expand his culinary repertoire, his mother takes Nacho to the market; these illustrations will delight readers with large renditions of beautifully whimsical vegetables, such as vibrant green chiles and large plump tomates that will surely make an enticing and delicious soup. The text is integrated nicely on the spreads and easy to read. Though Latin inspired, this tale of a picky eater will resonate with many. It will make a fun read-aloud because of the rhyming text in addition to lending itself to interesting discussions about food, food avoidances, and trying new things. A recipe for gazpacho and a glossary of Spanish words with the language articles in parentheses are appended.--Maricela Leon-Barrera, San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.