THE LITTLEST FOOD CRITIC

A young child is a very picky eater.

Baby Sebastian’s critical of the meals his parents serve and has developed a rating system: He awards meals one to five binkies, depending on whether they meet his exacting standards. The fancy restaurant his parents take him to is a one-binky experience: The highchair’s too tight, and Sebastian gets cranky listening to the waiter drone on about the specials. Time for a kid-friendly eatery, where they cook noodles similar to those that Sebastian’s parents make. OK, three binkies. Next day, when Mom and Dad serve Sebastian a favorite, though imperfect, dish, he recognizes a “special ingredient he had not noticed before—his family’s tender loving care.” The meal wins Sebastian’s highest rating: the coveted five binkies. Many parents will recognize Sebastian’s dining idiosyncrasies: He dislikes foods touching each other, and certain textures and consistencies bother him. Children old enough to appreciate the humor, however, may not relate to a story about a baby’s fussy eating habits. It’s also unclear why Sebastian suddenly learns to appreciate his parents’ efforts when the meals they’ve provided have always reflected their love; the story’s optimistic conclusion feels a bit like wish fulfillment for caregivers. The energetic illustrations were created from various media, including pastel, crayon, marker, colored pencil, spray paint, chalk, book pages, and old photos. Chubby, expressive Sebastian and his mom are brown-skinned, while his dad has pale skin.

An offering that little ones likely won’t gobble up.