Hello, friends! Our book today is The Adventures Of Princess Pudding Pie, written by Saureen Naik Desai and illustrated by Marco Mazzarello, a culinary journey around the world.

The joyful Princess Pudding Pie (who, with the exception of an actual pie for a head and face, is drawn as an otherwise normal girl) welcomes the reader, inviting them to join her for a trip around the world. There’s plenty to see, plenty to experience, and plenty to eat! In fact, the different regional desserts are one of Pudding Pie’s favorite things about traveling; each country has its own unique and delicious treat to try, from apple pie to gulab jamuns to brigadeiros.

Mostly delicious fun. This is a great concept for a book, and almost entirely well-executed. The rhyming text is brisk, bouncy, yet informative, the desserts featured are wholly unique to their countries, and Pudding Pie is even sure to remind young kiddos that desserts are meant for AFTER a full, healthy meal. The artwork, however, is where things falter a bit. Other than the odd choice of Pudding Pie’s design – the pie for a head is slightly off-putting throughout – the artwork has great promise: famous landmarks, clever details, and the incorporation of the colors/patterns of each country’s flag in Pie’s outfit. However, some of the outfits, which are modeled after traditional garb or regalia of the featured country, veer into the murky waters of cultural appropriation. In Kenya, Pie wears traditional Maasai regalia; in India, a sari and bindi; in Japan, kanzashi and a kimono. While the intent was likely to showcase these traditional attires, they should have been worn by a native character, not the tourist Pie. It’s an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise stellar indie. Otherwise, the length was fine and JJ enjoyed learning about the different foods. A few visual stumbling blocks, but otherwise worth a look, especially for young foodies. Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)