THE CAFÉ AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODS

A determined chef and an enterprising waiter serve a finicky patron.

Rene, a young tan-skinned woman, washes windows and “save[s] up every bean” to realize her dream of opening her own eatery, the titular cafe. The only applicant for the waiter position is Glumfoot, a short, squat, pointy-eared, green-skinned fellow. Morning after morning the cafe remains discouragingly empty until Glumfoot brings in a customer: a huge, green, lumpy-headed ogre. Unimpressed by Rene’s menu, the ogre requests some icky, off-menu items: pickled bats, slugs, and battered mice. When Rene bravely suggests a cheddar tart, the ogre counters, “A bag of bats! That smells like fart!” Rene nearly gives up, but Glumfoot, realizing that the ogre’s aversion to different foods is rooted in his desire for the familiar, deploys a clever solution that results in rave reviews from the ogre. The jaunty rhythm and rhymes of the text are lighthearted, while the warm, cartoonlike illustrations are droll and highly expressive, reflecting the author/illustrator’s background as an animator. Rene’s clothing, kitchen, and the cafe's interior have a pleasantly retro feel, and the story concludes with an abundant variety of fairy-tale creatures who come to dine at last.

A delightful and silly treat for gourmets, gourmands, and picky eaters alike.