FRESH DELICIOUS

A collection of lively poems celebrate edible delights from the farmers market.

Fruits and vegetables are not just food, but muses for poet and author Latham and illustrator Moriuchi. Written mostly in free verse, clever poems show farmers market produce in a new light. Cucumbers become larger than life: “a fleet / of green / submarines / in a wicker / sea.” Thoughts about corn echo a child’s curiosity: “I don’t know / why / they call it / an ear / when / I see / rows / upon rows / of tiny / noses.” In addition to viewing their subjects as submersibles or facial features, poems evoke the touch, taste, and smell of items such as honey, watermelon, and even an onion: “Remove / its hairy / roots, / peel its / old-man / skin. / Taste / where / it’s been.” Moriuchi’s colorful collages pair perfectly with Latham’s poems. Her illustrations depict animals in delightful situations: a rabbit carries a lettuce umbrella, and mice fence with fuzzy okra swords. This poetry collection will inspire readers to rush to the farmers market to compare Latham’s images with their real-life counterparts. Kid-friendly recipes are also included at the end of the book.

Whimsical poems will inspire readers to play with their fruits and vegetables.