Reader's Annotation: When a hungry giant shows up in Oscar's backyard, he decides to feed him, but just how much food will it take to satisfy a giant-sized appetite?
Summary: Oscar opens his door to let his dog, Cowgirl, out into the backyard and discovers a giant standing there. This is no scary giant, but a hungry one who carried a sign saying "Food Please". Oscar wants to help, and returns inside to find some lunch for the big guy. Grapes, pizza, chocolate milk, peanut butter, blueberry muffins, and chicken quesadillas are all gulped down, but the giant is still hungry.
After emptying the refrigerator and cabinets of every bit of food, Oscar doesn't know what to do next when he finds that the giant is still hungry. Luckily, Oscar's mom realizes what has been going on, and comes up with a plan to save the day with dinner.
This book features pop-up art, sliding tabs, die-cut windows and doors, and flaps to open, which add interest and an element of interactivity. Additionally, a mini cookbook is attached to the inside of the front cover that includes eight recipes for giant-sized food, including the biggest burger in the world and a pizza-size chocolate chip cookie.
Critical Evaluation: Friedman's narrative is charming and presents a message of the importance of kindness to others without being preachy. The imaginative story line encourages children to not only consider just how much food would be necessary to fill up a giant, but also the possibilities of what could happen each time they go outside - you never know what you might find in your backyard, as Oscar discovered.
Nielsen's illustrations are charming and playful, and are perfectly suited to such a fantastical story. The use of pattern in the giant's clothing, the trees, and the food packaging add a level of detail that invites closer examination. The interactive nature of the pop-ups, slides, and flaps allows young readers to engage with the story, and participate in the character's actions.
My only concern regarding the use of this book in a school or library setting would be its durability. With the pop-up and sliding mechanisms being somewhat delicate, and the non-reinforced binding, this work could suffer damage rather quickly from multiple readings.
Awards: ---
Why Included? Good food, the value of sharing, and playfulness: this combination is hard to beat. The idea of using this work as a jumping off point for a food drive, as I discovered on the publisher's website, is wonderful, and a great way to involve children in a worthwhile cause.