'Spoon,' a Children's Book About a Self-Conscious Spoon
There's something about anthropormorphized utensils that you just have to love. In honor of International Children's Book Day today, here is a look at Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Scott Magoon.
The protagonist is a spoon with your average identity issues—should he be jealous of forks that can twist up pasta? Are exotic chopsticks a threat? Does he live a fulfilled life if he can't spread jam?
For the most part, Spoon lives a pretty happy existence scooping up stuff, with a sliver of a line as a mouth (usually smiling) and stick figure hands (that wave). But you know, it's tough. Images from the book, after the jump.
This is probably my favorite page. The spoon family tree, with a moustached uncle on the left and slotted spoon cousins. Gotta love the freakishly tall ladle.
But those rounded edges mean he'll never see the likes of a salad or spongy cake. He'll never be a fork. Sigh.
But like all feel-good children's books, Spoon realizes he has strengths, even if they are limited to cereal bowls and tea-stirring. And not to ruin the ending, but there's a bedroom scene that uses one of his best strengths—a horizontal snuggle move. None of the other utensils can claim that.
If there were to be a sequel, I feel like sporks are up next. They've got plenty of messed-up identity issues.
'Spoon' will go on sale on April 7.
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11 Comments:
Poor spork - he looks so sad walking out of the family photo, probably going to ask his mother who his father is...really.
aespsg at 6:37PM on 04/02/09
Hahahahahahaha @ aespsg
dmartinxoxo at 7:00PM on 04/02/09
oh man, so adorable. im feeling all cuddley about spoons now.
redzerostar at 11:56PM on 04/02/09
This will be added to my son's ever growing collection of food related picture books. You know, cause I'm a nerd like that.
meleyna at 12:44AM on 04/03/09
Yea, I'm buying it too for my toddler. LOVE IT!!!! Way to sell a book guys!
arm1970 at 1:59AM on 04/03/09
! this is the cutest!
frenchtoast at 7:09AM on 04/03/09
All I could hear in my head was, "My spoon is too big...I am a banana."
Cassaendra at 1:19PM on 04/03/09
@aespsg HAhaha that's great :)
tienh5 at 3:44PM on 04/03/09
Hahahahahahaha @ aespsg too
hungrychristel at 3:58PM on 04/03/09
Feels like the message of this book might be: Accept your limitations. Kinda depressing in a way. I'd say to the spoon: Go for that spongy cake, my friend! You can do it! The illustrations are very sweet, though.
JustNancy at 4:23PM on 04/03/09
Spoon!!!! I love this book. It's a very cute take on the grass is always greener on the other side. I heart Spoon.
BrooklynBrownie at 11:23PM on 04/06/09