Synopsis
Is eating your vegetables the only way to save the world?!
Sammy hates lima beans despite the fact that he has never eaten a single one in his entire life. He has become a master of finding ways to avoid his lima beans. His latest and greatest scheme is sneaking them out of the house (in his sock!) and burying them in a hole in the ground. When the neighborhood kids hear about it, they quickly join in, adding their unwanted vegetables.
One night there is a terrible storm, and a monster is born! A monster made of Sammy's lima beans! Who will save the town? Who will rescue all the HUMAN beans from the rampaging lima bean monster?
Dan Yaccarino has illustrated two dozen books for children, eleven of which he has written. This is the first that he has written and not illustrated. He is currently writing a novel for young adults and is the creator and producer of the animated series, Oswald. He lives with his wife and two children in New York City.
Adam McCauley is the author and illustrator of Mr Friend Chicken. He also illustrates the Time Warp Trio series written by Jon Scieszka, including Sam Samurai and See You Later, Gladiator. He lives in Oakland, California, where he works as a freelance illustrator.
Publishers Weekly
In this mock-horror yarn about leftover veggies, evil greens terrorize a community. The trouble starts when lima-bean-hating Sammy stows his side dish in his sock when his mother isn't looking. He runs outside "with a sock full of hot, squishy beans," and with a fiendish grin, he buries the evidence. "Soon all the kids in the neighborhood were throwing their brussels sprouts, parsnips, and lima beans down into the hole," along with "ugly birthday sweaters, failed spelling tests, tap shoes and even an accordion." The succotash hits the fan one stormy night, when lightning strikes the heap and a bumpy face with lima-bean-shaped eyes and a broccoli nose rises from the earth, roaring, "Me want some human beans!" The only way to stop a legume creature is to eat it, and McCauley (My Friend Chicken) provides a hilarious image of vicious children digging their teeth into the gooey green golem. Yaccarino (Oswald the Octopus) sometimes reiterates what the pictures convey wordlessly. But the slimy beast ("It stank of lima beans and sweaty socks! Yuck!") has surefire gross-out appeal and no hollow pretensions of nutritional value. Even bean-proponents may push their plates away after this comical serving suggestion. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.