From Publishers Weekly
Young readers will find Shields's (The Bugliest Bug, reviewed March 11) tongue-in-cheek food jokes irresistible in this outlandish story about the nighttime activities of the denizens of a refrigerator. When the salad greens say, Lettuce have a party! the ensuing chaos leads to a colossal kitchen food fight. The almonds acted nutty, the pretzels did a twist, the Swiss cheese yodeled when the chocolates kissed. When the macaroni elbow[s] in and the rice get[s] steamed, the ice cubes yell, Chill out, you guys! until the policemen-like spuds emerge from the potato drawer to enforce order. Only the tawny house cat witnesses the whole show, and laps up the last of the spilled milk. Gay-Kassel's (Princess Bella and the Red Velvet Hat) molded clay characters, appearing against bright two-tone backgrounds that simulate spills, wear dramatic expressions and strike comical poses that make the most of their attributes (e.g., an angry soup container's handles contribute to a hands-on-hips stance). The design and typeface grows cluttered as the chaos escalates; the text loops around, spotlighted or shadowed in various colors, and the dialogue appears in red and yellow speech bubbles. Readers' appetite for Shields's delicious puns will keep them glued to the food frenzy, and laughing at the image of the battalion of spuds keeping the groceries in line. Ages 3-7. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-Eye-popping illustrations and puns galore relate the story of what happened in the kitchen when everyone in the house was sleeping. "`Lettuce have a party!' said the salad greens-. The coffee perked up and the beets started thumping,/The bread made a toast and the jello was jumping." When the tuna fish told the garlic, "You stink," the "chili pepper got red-hot mad" and the rumble was on. A food fight ensued until the Idaho potatoes eyed the disturbance and brought the situation under control. The humorous rhyming text, which dips and swirls over vividly colored backgrounds, begs to be read aloud. Amazing modeling clay artwork shows great skill and depicts a wide variety of expressions on the anthropomorphic food. Flowing words and bright colors infuse the story with energy and whimsy to spare.Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WICopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Card catalog description
Late one night, the salad greens declare "Lettuce have a party!" and food emerges from cabinets and cupboards to join in, until the tuna fish band tells garlic it stinks and things start to go bad.


About the Author
Salinas, California-based poet and librarian Carol Diggory Shields was inspired to write Food Fight! after being tempted by a snack during a late-night creative burst while penning Animagicals. Though Doreen Gay-Kassel has been extensively published, this is the first time she has applied her talent for creating clay sculptures to a picture book. She lives in New Jersey.

ANNOTATION

Late one night, the salad greens declare "Lettuce have a party!" and food emerges from cabinets and cupboards to join in, until the tuna fish band tells garlic it stinks and things start to go bad.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

With all the energy of a suddenly opened, well-shaken can of soda, the poet Carol Diggory Shields imaginatively creates a universe of food with a mind of its own. The claymation food by Doreen Gay-Kassel looks almost too fabulous to eat!

Author Biography: Salinas, California-based poet and librarian Carol Diggory Shields was inspired to write Food Fight! after being tempted by a snack during a late-night creative burst while penning Animagicals. Though Doreen Gay-Kassel has been extensively published, this is the first time she has applied her talent for creating clay sculptures to a picture book. She lives in New Jersey.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Young readers will find Shields's (The Bugliest Bug, reviewed March 11) tongue-in-cheek food jokes irresistible in this outlandish story about the nighttime activities of the denizens of a refrigerator. When the salad greens say, Lettuce have a party! the ensuing chaos leads to a colossal kitchen food fight. The almonds acted nutty, the pretzels did a twist, the Swiss cheese yodeled when the chocolates kissed. When the macaroni elbow[s] in and the rice get[s] steamed, the ice cubes yell, Chill out, you guys! until the policemen-like spuds emerge from the potato drawer to enforce order. Only the tawny house cat witnesses the whole show, and laps up the last of the spilled milk. Gay-Kassel's (Princess Bella and the Red Velvet Hat) molded clay characters, appearing against bright two-tone backgrounds that simulate spills, wear dramatic expressions and strike comical poses that make the most of their attributes (e.g., an angry soup container's handles contribute to a hands-on-hips stance). The design and typeface grows cluttered as the chaos escalates; the text loops around, spotlighted or shadowed in various colors, and the dialogue appears in red and yellow speech bubbles. Readers' appetite for Shields's delicious puns will keep them glued to the food frenzy, and laughing at the image of the battalion of spuds keeping the groceries in line. Ages 3-7. (June) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Eye-popping illustrations and puns galore relate the story of what happened in the kitchen when everyone in the house was sleeping. "`Lettuce have a party!' said the salad greens-. The coffee perked up and the beets started thumping,/The bread made a toast and the jello was jumping." When the tuna fish told the garlic, "You stink," the "chili pepper got red-hot mad" and the rumble was on. A food fight ensued until the Idaho potatoes eyed the disturbance and brought the situation under control. The humorous rhyming text, which dips and swirls over vividly colored backgrounds, begs to be read aloud. Amazing modeling clay artwork shows great skill and depicts a wide variety of expressions on the anthropomorphic food. Flowing words and bright colors infuse the story with energy and whimsy to spare.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews