THE PEANUT-FREE CAFÉ

Allergies to peanuts can kill and Koster and Cocca-Leffler demonstrate these dangers with brightness and feeling, using Simon and his multicultural classmates as foils because, guess what their favorite lunch food is. Enter Grant, a new student with the peanut allergy. He dramatically mimes choking, eyes squeezed, tongue stuck out, “If I eat just one peanut or anything made with peanut oil, I can’t breathe.” Grant explains he has to have a shot immediately and then tells them that peanut butter was not allowed in his last school. Simon and his principal thoughtfully consider what to do and the solution becomes much more fun than experiencing the joys of peanut butter. The final note comes from the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, an appropriate end for the only bibliotherapeutic picture book about peanut allergies. An attractive package with a heavy mission that manages to keep its balance. (Picture book. 4-6)