WHEN PB MET J

A friendship story with a heaping helping of puns.

The Fridgers and the Cupboard Crew seem content to stay on their own sides of the kitchen. The foods that reside in the refrigerator badmouth the nonperishables throughout the day, except Jelly, who wonders if the foodstuffs in the cabinet are really all that bad. The Cupboard Crew is no better; they discuss why the refrigerated items are nefarious—everyone, that is, except Peanut Butter, whose natural curiosity spurs the action of the story. All the food meets on the kitchen island to mingle for the Friday Night Jam, where Peanut Butter, aka PB, introduces himself to Jelly, aka J, after shyly admiring her dance moves. Then, in a scene fit for a teen drama, a smooth-talking jar of pickles barges in, causing PB to leave in dismay and J to lose her lid. This attracts the household dog, who makes a beeline for the vulnerable J, forcing PB to make a brave choice to rescue his new friend. Food puns and jokes dominate. The cartoon foods are adorable, with expressive, emotional faces. It’s a shame then that the bulk of the writing is relatively bland, like a loaf of crustless white bread. The social-emotional skill of relationship building is somewhat unrealistically shown in this kitchen that goes from cliquey to cohesive over the course of one fateful evening. Kids may adore the art, but neither they nor caregivers will appreciate the far-fetched foodie fable. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet but not satisfying.