Everyone Loves Bacon

June 22, 2015
There are bacon potato chips and even bacon vodka, so why not a bacon-infused picture book? DiPucchio (Gaston) and Wight (the Magic Shop series) don’t just jump on the gastronomic bandwagon, however; they also tell a comically cautionary story that’s worthy of Behind the Music. Bacon is the star of the local diner: a dashing figure with pink and burgundy marbling and a roguish wink, his groupies are many, from curly fries to melon wedges. The exceptions are French Toast, who “ doesn’t like anyone,” and the other breakfast meats, who may be a teeny bit envious. But while Bacon is funny and talented, his growing cultural cachet goes straight to his head, and he starts acting—wait for it—rashly. “His picture appeared on T-shirts. And billboards. And buses,” but Bacon forgets that he’s just another item on the menu. DiPucchio’s short, direct text provides just the right setup for Wight’s boisterous, spoofy drawings and egomaniacal star. His bright-eyed anthropomorphism and visual nudges should remind many readers of Veggie Tales at its most supremely silly. Ages 3–6. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

Starred review from June 15, 2015
Retro art meets wry humor in this very funny tale of hubris set in a diner. Bacon is one popular dude-and the love in which he basks includes a hefty dose of self-love. On Page 1, the anthropomorphic Bacon gazes admiringly at his reflection in a spoon and then parades around the countertop like a rock star while Egg, Waffle, and Pancake look on in awe. And yet the next spread shows a scarf- and beret-clad French Toast sneering while twirling a skinny moustache. "But he didn't count because French Toast doesn't like anyone" proclaims the text, trading un petit peu on ethnic stereotype but staying just this side of offensive since the book as a whole invites laughter with a bit of edge to it. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the story's culmination, when our egotistical meathead of a hero gets his comeuppance: after turning his back on friends (Lettuce, Tomato, and Avocado) and leaving a baconless cheeseburger to cry, "Fine. Have it your way," in a possible nod to the old Burger King slogan, Bacon ends up on a fork, gobbled down for breakfast by a bacon-loving customer. Throughout, Wight's expressive illustrations meet DiPucchio's text at every humorous turn as they define the foodstuffs-er, characters-with cartoonish panache. A bacon book so funny that perhaps even some vegetarians will love it. (Picture book. 4-8)

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July 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-This story follows the current craze for bacon and imagines Bacon, the character, as a type of matinee idol. Everyone wants to sit beside him, everyone thinks he smells so good. Bacon lets the attention go to his head. He starts thinking he is too good for old friends. He adopts a fancy lifestyle. He is the toast of the town...until he gets eaten! The diner setting has a late 50s/early 60s vibe, from the cars in the parking lot to the items on the diner counter. Everything has a bright, mid-century, nostalgic look. The various food characters are distinct identities, which are brought to life through the illustrations. Bacon starts with Egg, Waffle, and Pancake. As his popularity grows, he interacts with all kinds of different foods, including Pie and Milkshake. Bacon starts driving a fancy car, powered by a child's hand, which sets up the final joke (and the empty plate). The deeper message about the fleeting nature of fame and the problem of being self-centered may be lost in all the slapstick humor, but kids will appreciate the clever tone. VERDICT Many libraries will want this Bacon on the menu.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

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