Synopses & Reviews
Amuse-bouche (a-MOOSE-boosh) noun
1 : A small complimentary appetizer offered just before dinner by a chef.
2 : The French literal translation: amuse (to amuse) + bouche (mouth) = amusement for the mouth”
3 : A tiny bite that gives an idea of the chef's artistic approach to food.
A Moose Boosh (a-MOOSE-boosh) noun
1 : A small collection of spoken word poems to be read aloud before or after dinner by anyone.
2 : These spoken word poems are little amusing stories about food and nutrition.
3 : These poems are a new addition to meal time, meant to make the elusive family dinner special again.
Eating at the dinner table is so much more fun when you can share a few silly poems before you eat. Parents will see how children experience food (for real!) and kids may just try a few more bites, or at least ask where their food comes from. Artist and poet Eric-Shabazz Larkin, in a high-spirited debut as author and illustrator, captures the joy of eating together and will bring the whole family back to the ever-elusive dinner table.
Review
"In 40-plus energetic poems, Larkin celebrates the good and decries the bad in the food world. Though individual poems might seem like amuse-bouches by themselves, they add up to a full meal, and the volume as a whole serves up a lively conversation about food... [T]he overall effect of the poetry and the mixed-media, graffiti-style art (inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat) is exuberant: "Where there is food, there will be laughter (and crumbs)." A kid-friendly companion to Michael Pollan's Food Rules."and#151;Kirkus Reviews
Review
and#147;Larkin presents more than 40 tasty, food-inspired poems written in the spirit of an amuse-bouche, or small appetizer offered by the chef before a meal, in this fun and innovative collection. Varied in style and toneand#151;much like food itselfand#151;the witty, quirky poems take on many different topics. and#147;A Desk Is Not a Dinner Tableand#8221; pushes readers to consider the value in making time for a quality meal, while and#147;Secret Meat,and#8221; and#147;Ashley Wonand#8217;t Eat It If She Canand#8217;t Spell It,and#8221; and and#147;Food Doesnand#8217;t Grow in Packagesand#8221; will spark dialogue about where food comes from, who touches it along its journey, and what artificial elements it contains. The design is inspired, from the table of contents, which resembles a menu, to the photographs, which have been and#147;vandalizedand#8221; by Larkin with graffiti art, whimsically bringing each poem to life and giving it a voiceand#133; The authorand#8217;s note offers a sweet, journal-like description of how this title came to be written, designed in a variety of handwriting-esque fonts. Pair this collection with texts on urban farming, cooking, and the origins of foodand#133; This is a charming and original book that should start some quality conversation about foodand#8221;
and#151;School Library Journal
"In 40-plus energetic poems, Larkin celebrates the good and decries the bad in the food world. Though individual poems might seem like amuse-bouches by themselves, they add up to a full meal, and the volume as a whole serves up a lively conversation about food... [T]he overall effect of the poetry and the mixed-media, graffiti-style art (inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat) is exuberant: "Where there is food, there will be laughter (and crumbs)." A kid-friendly companion to Michael Pollan's Food Rules."
and#151;Kirkus Reviews
and#147;Larkin assembles more than 40 food-themed poems that range from the political to the personal, pairing them with photographs that have digital doodles superimposed on them. Several poems take aim at urban food deserts, fast food, or modified foodand#133; But Larkin doesnand#8217;t ignore the sillier or joyful side of foodand#133;and his sometimes whimsical, sometimes provocative artwork gives the poems added dimension and depth."
and#151;Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Eating at the dinner table is so much more fun when you can share a few silly poems before you eat. Parents will see how children experience food (for real!) and kids may just try a few more bites, or at least ask where their food comes from. Artist and poet Eric-Shabazz Larkin, in a high-spirited debut as author and illustrator, captures the joy of eating together and will bring the whole family back to the ever-elusive dinner table.
Synopsis
Where there is food, there will be laughter (and crumbs).In more than 40 exuberant poems and "vandalized" photographs, you'll meet a city kid who fantasizes about farming on a stoop, a girl with crumpets and crêpes in her head, and a boy with a pet cabbage. "Doctor Food" prescribes good food as medicine and "Dancing Kitchen" will have you shimmying with your skillet. From the amuse-bouche to the very last pea on the plate, A Moose Boosh celebrates food growing it, making it, slurping it and especially sharing it with loved ones at the dinner table. Bon appétit!
Poetry is food for the soul, food is poetry for the tongue.
About the Author
Eric-Shabazz Larkin always knew he was an artist. He didnt discover there was a graffiti artist inside of him until he drew the Norfolk (VA) city skyline on the wall of his childhood home, forcing his mother to forbid the use of permanent markers in her house ever again. His need to draw on things did not lay dormant for very long as he started to vandalize his own books and photos, which is what led him to the illustration style of this book.
Eric-Shabazz is a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker and poet. The first children's book he illustrated, Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table, was named an American Library Association Notable Children's Book and received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist. A Moose Boosh marks his debut as author and illustrator. He lives in Long Island City, New York. Learn more about him at creativeschoolofthought.com.