Doña Esmeralda, Who Ate Everything! by Melissa De La Cruz is a humorous and silly picture book that introduces children to the magical creature, Doña Esmeralda, that steals the leftover food from their plates using her enchanted straw. It subtly cautions the many picky eaters out there to appreciate the food put out on their table before it’s slurped away by the mischievous, Doña Esmeralda, while also being an amusing tale of what happens when a magical creature with an appetite like hers becomes too hungry and eats too much! It will have readers bursting with laughter and craving the delicious variety of foods the book pays wonderful homage to in its flowing writing and swirling illustrations by Primo Gallanosa.
This picture book is a fun and incredibly entertaining read. It does a wonderful job of playfully confronting selective behavior when it comes to food, and encouraging readers to explore and appreciate whatever cuisine may end up on their plate.
(Ages 4-8)
