LET'S TACO ABOUT HOW GREAT YOU ARE

This pun-filled pep talk starring fruits and veggies is a lot to digest.

Do you enjoy the feel-good humor of a motivational poster? Do off-brand, pun-filled greeting cards inspire you? If you’ve answered yes to both questions, then this is the book for you! Photographs of various food items from avocados to ravioli lead readers on a tour of punny feel-good platitudes that put the average dad joke to shame. The humor is over-the-top and often groanworthy but may appeal to readers who like their jokes broad. Very, very broad. Each double-page spread features a different edible item transformed into a character with photo-collaged features, accompanied by a motivational phrase that’s been adapted to reference the food: A pickle reminds readers that “You’re a smarty pants / DILL with it (and we’re not GHERKIN AROUND!)” while a red-waxed wheel of cheese (sans a wedge) offers the sage advice that “Life is GOUDA, take it one slice at a time,” adding chirpily, “i [sic] have no doubt you’ll be grate!” Readers looking for a message deeper than “Always find a raisin to smile!” will quickly be bored by it all; those who like their foodplay served with a hint of sophistication should look instead down the Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers aisle. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.5-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Definitely an acquired taste.