Rooty the Rutabaga: Someone's Starting School - Steven Megson

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AUTHOR: Steven Megson

ILLUSTRATOR: Andy Yura
GENRE: Children's Picture Book.
RATING: 3.75 stars.

A sweet children’s picture book about facing the first day of school.

Rooty the rutabaga is very worried as school begins the next day. He wonders if he will be lonely yet again as he doesn’t know any of the vegetables in his class. However, when he walks in the next day, he realises that everyone is as nervous as he is, and all it takes is a kind gesture from one of the other veggie “students” to make Rooty feel comfortable.

This is quite a simplistic story. It sticks to its agenda and doesn’t try to cram in too many morals. I appreciate how the author didn’t stick to the popular vegetables but used even Brussels Sprout and Eggplant as characters in addition to the rutabaga, none being favourite vegetables of kids. Maybe this will help children accept unpopular veggies more willingly in their diet.

The illustrations in the book are adorable. It was fun to see the vegetables portrayed as students. Rooty is the best-sketched, but Ms. Eggplant came a close second.

This is part of the Rooty series, but the book can be read as a standalone. The book will suit little readers aged 3-8.

Worth a try if you are looking for a good indie picture book for your kids.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through a ‘StoryOrigin’ promo and these are my honest thoughts about it.

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