Yummy by Lucy Cousins

Yummy 

By Lucy Cousins

Candlewick, 2009

128 pages

Ages 3 and up

ISBN-10 0763644749
Picture book

Eight classic hunger/food related fairy tales illustrated by Lucy Cousins. 

This collection of fairy tales includes the classic stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Enormous Turnip, Henny Penny, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Red Hen, The Three Little Pigs, and The Musicians of Bremen. These are all stories of hunger where eating is either enabled, prevented, or denied depending on the capabilities of the characters and without any sugarcoating. Though some people might find the hacked off wolf's head and the headless body too graphic for young children.

The artwork is bold and clear enough for young children and is in Lucy Cousins typical style which is also big enough for back row audiences'  viewing during a storytime reading. The limited text and simplistic drawings will make it easy for a young child to memorize the storyline without becoming distracted by beautiful illustrations or many elements within the picture. So, this book will also encourage a storytelling ability/literacy in addition to just plain literacy.