Jory John

Honestly, this is just a cute children’s story and I’m not embarrassed to admit I love it. I’ve read this multiple times to my little sister before (who also loves hearing it) and I still enjoy it as much as I did the first time I read it to her. In my opinion, it’s the best book in this series.
Also, I did not expect to get so called out by this book, but hey, we’re all sometimes sour grapes, aren’t we? As long as we try our best to be more sweet than sour, don’t hold grudges show more for long periods of time and give the people who hurt us the chance to explain, we can all get better, which is a lesson the book does a great job of teaching. Definitely a 5 star book. show less

A wheel of cheddar always picks competitive activities and games that they know they'll win; then they brag about their win as inevitable because they are "the big cheese."

This was another super fun addition in the "Food Group" series by author Jory John and illustrator Pete Oswald. Kids (and adults) will enjoy the silliness and puns, but there's also a deeper message. I always say that I feel like we talk too much about 'sore losers' and not enough about 'sore winners,' but this book seeks show more to rectify that. Ched starts off as a braggart, always choosing opportunities to shine and then making a big deal about it. But when a new cheese in town quietly wins competition after competition, our protagonist learns that humility is a good thing, it's okay when others win (even if sometimes it can be a bit frustrating at first), and that trying -- and even failing -- at new things is something worth doing. I love that the book also deals with emotions, even 'negative' ones, and allows Ched (and kids by extension) to feel those feelings but not wallow in them.

The illustrations are in the style of the rest of the series; that is to say, they are comical, whimsical, and appealing. They fit the tone of the story perfectly and add lots of fun extra details. show less

Genius. Not a spectacular story (but a very good one, well-told), not amazing art (but vibrant, expressive, and apt), but the premise is a perfect fit for so many avid readers (and other ppl) that this ought to be a runaway hit.

Of course you, my friends, know that I am a Bear. I really could use a Duck in my life, but my family are all Bears, too. Maybe I'll meet a Duck when I move into a senior housing campus.

And there's an earlier book about these two? I definitely want to check it out!

This highly existential work of morbid satire was masquerading as something far more innocent nestled among the children's books at Target. Needless to say, its hilarious portrayal of ennui and mortal dread from the varying perspectives of dinosaurs, pirates, trees, and a host of other sorry saps abandoned and in wait for the reaper. A crack up. Your kids will love it.