Written and Illustrated by Mikey Please
This book has my kind of vibe…funny, odd, and a bit surprising. Rene dreamed of fine cuisine; she saved her beans and built a cafe at the edge of the woods. She hires a waiter, Glumfoot, her only applicant. Unfortunately, no one comes to the cafe, until Glumfoot goes for a walk and returns with an ogre. The ogre wants to eat slugs, and mice, and other disgusting stuff. Will Glumfoot save the day?
The text has a beat and rhyme that reads like a fairy tale. The illustrations are a bit dark, droll, and lighthearted, all rolled into one. This story has a Jon Klassen feel to me, IYKYK. So much so, halfway into the read, I had to flip to the front cover to check. This book passes my read aloud ability test, and I look forward to sharing it with classes soon.
Reviewed by Kristen Hunt, Librarian, Whittier Elementary School
Review shared in October 2024
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-3
The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods
Written and Illustrated by Mikey Please
Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
48 pages
Release Date: October 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780063345492
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
