Picky Picky! But I Don't Eat Ants by Dan Marvin

I AM AN ANTEATER.

BUT I DON'T EAT ANTS.

KOALAS AREN'T CALLED EUCALYPTUS EATERS.

JAGUARS EAT ANTEATERS, BUT THEY AREN'T CALLED ANTEATER EATERS!

What do you call an anteater who won't eat ants?

This little anteater can't be called a picky eater! In fact, he's quite the omnivore!

Tortellini is totally terrific! Liverwurst is the best wurst!

Noodles and strudels are consumed by the oodles! Antipasta is awesome, but hold the ants!

His anteater aunts try to set him a good example, guzzling their daily Formicidae. But he prefers burgers and fries!

What's an anteater mama to do to get her kid to eat what she puts on his plate? But this mother is wise; she sneaks in a subtle compromise.

A zesty little garnish on his salad??

"MOM! WHAT ARE THESE?"

Mom looks a bit smug as she reveals the origin of those piquant crispy toppings. Would you believe... fire ants?

YUM! They are delish! He will eat them here and there; he will eat them anywhere! (Thanks, Dr. Seuss!)

Dan Marvin's new But I Don't Eat Ants (Pow Books, 2017) pokes fun at picky eaters, while purposefully parsing the many types of tastes out there. Young reluctant tasters may take some comfort in Marvin's character who thinks eating ants is just weird, until he tries one type that is definitely to his taste. Kelly Fry's illustrations are colorfully executed with just the right soupcon of silliness that just suits the tale of an anteater who chows down on everything but eschews eating ants! And with the mention of unusual foods such as gazpacho and tortellini, finger foods like stuffed olives, and exotic dishes like escargot, this book is perfect for the necessary class unit on food and for the tasting party that often often follows.

Share this one with the ever-popular Green Eggs and Ham and Jan Yolen's and Mark Teague's How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? (Book & CD). (see review here.)