Who Wants Broccoli

Reviewed by: Michelle Brenner - Casco Public Library, Casco, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 2, 2016

Review

This is a delightful children's book about a dog who he is left at the doorstep of Beezley's Animal Shelter in a broccoli box and thus is named Broccoli. He has lived most of his life at the shelter because his exuberant tail-chasing, bowl-balancing and loud barking scares off potential families. Mrs. Beezley's philosophy is that "There's a lid for every pot and a pot for every lid", but Mr. Beezley relegates Broccoli to the back room because "This noisy, messy pot will never find a lid". Broccoli almost doesn't get to meet the boy of his dreams who is looking for a very fun, energetic dog and of course turns out to be the dog's "lid". The beautiful watercolor and colored pencil illustrations nicely complement the story and show the variety of sweet, happy animals who live at the shelter. The childlike excitement Broccoli exhibits and the expressions he makes are clearly conveyed and will surely bring smiles to the young reader/listener. I liked the fact that the setting is identified as an animal shelter and not a pet store. Although it isn't told in a particularly original story line, I would recommend this book because the message that there is a place for everyone to fit in is an important children's theme, and the illustrations would make this a favorite read-aloud.

Overall Book Score: very good