Dessert First

Starred review from May 4, 2009
As might be expected from her name alone, Dessert, the spunky narrator of this refreshing debut, takes to heart her third-grade teacher's advice to march to one's own drummer. First on Dessert's agenda: getting to eat dessert before dinner (“Mummy and Daddy, in a perfect world, dessert comes before supper. My body is calling for dessert first”). Durand displays a knack for comedic timing in a sequence in which Dessert discovers a box of Double-Decker Chocolate Bars and, despite her mother's warnings (“Stay away from the Double-Ds
”), she samples (and finishes) the treats over several visits to the fridge. Her voice rings as true in somber moments. After a climactic scene in which the empty box is discovered (with much howling by both mother and daughter), a remorseful Dessert asks her teacher, Mrs. Howdy Doody, how she can make amends. When the teacher responds, “Try to think like you usually do,” Dessert laments, “That's how I got into trouble.” Davenier's (the Iris and Walter series) humorous b&w pictures ably convey this endearing heroine's mercurial moods. Readers will be left craving a second helping. Ages 7–10.

July 1, 2009
Gr 2-5-Eight-year-old Dessert, a lover of all things sweet and delicious, is trying to follow her third-grade teachers advice to march to her own drummer. But it is not as easy as it sounds. Her first task is to convince her parents that dessert should be eaten before dinner, but they have other ideas. And when her mother forbids her to touch the irresistible homemade double-decker fudge bars in the refrigerator, Dessert cannot resist, and winds up eating all of them. Now she must find a way to make it up to her family, and so she cooks up a scheme that involves helping out at her familys restaurant. But when her class nemesis arrives at Fondue Paris, all of her grand plans may fall apart. This is a delectable story narrated by a plucky young heroine. Daveniers clever illustrations, reminiscent of Hilary Knights work in "Eloise", add to the charm. This book will be especially popular with fans of Clementine, Junie B. Jones, and Ramona."Jessica Marie, Renton Public Library, WA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2009
Third grader Dessert loves her teacher, Mrs. Howdy Doody, her warm, wacky, fondue restaurant-owning family, and her namesakes--especially Double-Decker Chocolate Bars. Sacrificing dessert for a school fundraiser, the spirited protagonist learns valuable lessons about life--and her favorite course. Quirky characters and stylish pen and ink-wash illustrations enliven the sweet tale.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)