THE KNIGHT SNACKER

A grocery list left on the table subtly foreshadows a nighttime quest for comestibles.

It’s dinnertime, and like so many kids, Sir Julian, a tan-skinned child, is not impressed with his mom’s experimental cooking, opting to feed it to the dog. Predictably, this leads to the need for snacks. Sir Julian’s evening—beginning with his supper, which smells “like dragon’s ooze”—mimics a hero’s journey as he vanquishes foes and fears, among them the dreaded potty monster, on the way to his final destination: the kitchen. To his horror, he discovers that the family is out of snacks, rendering his perilous journey moot—or is it? For when Sir Julian, left with no other options, tries the dreadful dinner, he finds it…not bad. Perhaps the real quest is being open to trying new things. Food avoidance, bathroom fears, and nighttime worry are familiar and welcome themes in picture books, and this one, though a bit predictable, is no exception. Digital art effectively depicts Sir Julian’s wide range of emotions, from trepidation to terror to triumph, but feels a bit artificial. Adult readers assessing (among other things) how loud this nighttime journey must have been may wonder where the grown-ups in this book are, but kids will enjoy comic nods like the overly dramatic depiction of the unfamiliar—and therefore—monstrous dinner. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An enjoyable, if well-trod, adventure.