Abby Dreams of Food


Children - Grade K-3rd
34 Pages
Reviewed on 05/25/2021
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite

In Abby Dreams Of Food by Beatriz Fábrega, we are introduced to a young girl whose first thought upon waking up is what she’s going to eat that day. Immediately her mind goes to yummy sweet treats. Abby’s mother is a chef and she loves to watch her at work. Her mom tells her that people who like to eat yummy food must learn how to cook good food. They decide on making turkey meatballs with sauce. Abby tries and tries but her meatballs don’t turn out right at all. Her mom tells her that she needs to practice and that it takes work to make them perfect. Later on that day Abby wants a snack so she goes to her mom and asks if she could help her make a treat. Mom makes banana boats and soda floats. Abby’s don’t turn out right, but once again her mom tells her that practice makes perfect. At lunch, her mom makes tomato soup and corn fritters, and once again Abby is allowed to help. For a third time, she struggled and didn’t succeed, but still her mom's words about learning to cook remain in her mind. When dinner comes around, Abby once again helps her mom to make her favorite dish which is chicken cassava pie. This time her dish turns out yummy, making Abby a very happy girl.

Abby Dreams Of Food is a fun and adorable read. As someone who loves food probably as much as the main character, I remember the days when I struggled with learning how to cook. Abby is a bit more fortunate though in having a mother who is a chef and encourages her to keep trying until she succeeds. I also love how the book constantly reminds the young reader to wash their hands before working with food because that is very important when handling food. It will come in handy for the young reader to know as they grow older and eventually get jobs, possibly in foodservice where handwashing is extremely important. I also liked how Beatriz Fábrega added the recipes mentioned in the story in the back of the book for others to make. The illustrations also are beautifully done and fit perfectly with the storyline. I think Beatriz Fábrega has done a wonderful job with this story and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

Asher Syed

Abby Dreams of Food, written by Beatriz Fabrega with illustrations by Danielle Fabrega, is a children's picture book that follows its titular character as she explores her favorite pastime of eating. The book begins with an introduction to Abby as she is waking up, then swiftly moving to the kitchen where her mom has made her a deliciously sweet breakfast. Abby's mother is a chef and mother and daughter seem to go from one meal to the next throughout the course of the day, with Abby being reminded to wash her hands when she asks to help. Abby is still learning the art of creative cooking and plating but is regularly encouraged to try her best and continue to practice, which she does when she is both awake and active and even sleeping as she dreams of making the perfect dish.

The concept between Abby Dreams of Food is a good one as it explores the relationship between families and the meals they prepare and share, and is practical in the sense that the kitchen is almost always the place where everyone congregates. Beatriz Fabrega does well in establishing Abby's infatuation with food and carrying this theme through each page even when the rhythm of her narrative gets a bit jumbled. My young reader was absolutely enthralled by the gorgeous illustrations. Danielle Fabrega is a master talent when it comes to the artwork, bringing Abby's world to life in a style that resembles a bridging between sketch and strong watercolor. The book concludes with the recipes Abby and her mother used, and are the perfect accompaniment to a story about cooking. Recommended.

Lois Henderson

The early reader Abby Dreams of Food: Rhyming Story and Cookbook for Kids, written by Beatriz Fábrega and illustrated by Danielle Fábrega, tells the story of a little girl called Abby who is totally obsessed with food. Her happiness seems to radiate from and about food, and no wonder, as her mother is a chef who is forever cooking up culinary delights in her own kitchen. However, whenever Abby tries to cook anything, it comes out as a total disaster. Nevertheless, her mother keeps on encouraging her to persevere, as “practice makes perfect.” What happens then makes for an interesting outcome. The book ends with recipes for the following dishes, all of which have formed part of the story: ice cream swirl; cinnamon toast with peanut butter; turkey sliders; banana boats; soda floats; tomato soup; corn fritters; chicken and pink sauce lasagna; creamy spaghetti with sautéed ham; rice and beans with bacon bits; garlic poppers; and chicken cassava pie.

Beatriz Fábrega’s Abby Dreams of Food: Rhyming Story and Cookbook for Kids is a full-color early reader that is replete with fun (and calories). Aimed at a target market of learners ranging from Grade K to 3, the book is bound to appeal to youngsters, with its central characters being Abby, her mother, and her dog. The dog appears in the illustrations only and is such a captivating hound and so amusingly depicted that the reader’s heart must inevitably respond warmly to its wiles. Abby’s range of emotions from excitement about what the next dish is going to be to her disappointment whenever she makes a flop is conveyed in such a way that it should encourage a heartfelt response from the reader. So why not join in the fun and buy a copy for your child or grandchild today (or else purchase it for your class if you are a teacher)!