ICE CREAM EVERYWHERE

A mouthwatering global tour of some favorite frozen treats.

Each spread in this book features children around the world sitting down to a host of desserts. Leo and his parents have hazelnut gelato served in a warm brioche in Italy, Neza eagerly anticipates soft serve in Rwanda, Omar and Papa serve baklava-sprinkled gelato in their gelateria in Libya, Zara and Syed buy mango-flavored kulfi in India, Uncle John cheers up a disappointed Tui with hokey pokey in New Zealand, and children at a birthday party eat sundaes in the U.S. This last scene is realistic (one small child has a grubby hand plunged into the chocolate sprinkles). Smaller text offers more context about each sweet treat. Some readers might feel surfeited, but no brain freeze will follow the informative descriptions. A world map at the end locates the treats, and a final page explains the differences among four types of frozen dessert. The illustrations use mostly soft pastel color blocks that are free of lines as well as simplified forms and facial expressions. People are diverse throughout. A final scene depicts eight of the far-flung children picnicking together with their treats. Parental warning: The possibility of ice cream for breakfast is posed as a valid option. All in all, ice cream lovers will emerge satisfied—and eager to try out some potentially unfamiliar confections.

Not a history: a celebration of some of the world’s cold, milky confections, familiar and novel.