antlersantlers's review
4.0
This is another weeding gem I came across today, and I'm keeping it because we definitely don't have a ton of Cameroonian stories. But more than that, a lot of picture books set in Africa tend to be pretty heavy on the message. This one is about a two year old who loooooooves to eat. Toto Gourmand is curious, adventurous, and so very hungry as he goes to the market with his grandmother. He causes a lot of trouble and chaos, but one reason I like this book is that everyone is really sweet and understanding. Even though he's a tiny hungry monster, he's still a two year old kiddo. The illustrations are also really beautiful. The back flap says the illustrator, Colin Bootman, is from Trinidad and mentions his vivid childhood memories of the bustling outdoor markets. That really comes through!
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