S'MORE IS ENOUGH

An anthropomorphic s’more has an identity crisis.

Graham—a campfire treat made of chocolate and marshmallows sandwiched between two crackers—leads a comfortable life, going to school, doing chores at home, and playing soccer. But as he grows bigger, he begins to wonder if he should do more with his life. At first he tries to emulate his fellow sweets, but lollipop swirls are dizzying, and cupcake sprinkles make him itchy. Graham reads, travels widely, and attempts hobbies, from kayaking to karate. Then he has an epiphany. By celebrating joy, sharing love, and exploring different possibilities, “you become more and more like the YOU you’ve always wanted to be.” Brief descriptive statements with a didactic, earnestly self-help vibe are brightened by charming portrayals of cheery-looking foodstuffs that add humor and emotion. Confusingly, readers are told that “Graham started off small,” then “doubled in size” before becoming a s’more, but he’s visually depicted as a s’more right from the beginning. Wordplay (“as a s’more, what more could he be? What more should he be?”) will likely be lost on the young audience, as will Graham’s rather existential yearnings. Miles concludes with an author’s note aimed at adults, a dense and heavy dissertation on child development.

Imaginative, but overdone and pedantic.