Title: Warriors Eat Alphabet Soup
Author: Meredith Villano
Illustrator: Nataly Vits
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-5246-9752-5
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Carolyn Reidy

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In Warriors Eat Alphabet Soup, we are introduced to Judy, a special little girl with a big smile, round-rim glasses and curly hair, looking at the world in a wondrous way. But Judy is sick. She stayed home from school for many days, missed her summer camp and finds herself in a hospital. In the hospital she befriends Maya, Mark and Hillary, plus she has her favorite nurse, her second-favorite and third-favorite nurses – kids do rank people in this way at times. Maya likes to draw so Judy spends lots of time drawing together. Mark has a red cape on his wheelchair and Judy likes to push him fast down the hall – that is until the nurses tell them to stop. Hillary wants to be an actress when she grows up.

What does this have to do with alphabet soup? Judy loves alphabet soup. She spells out all kinds of words, names and sentences – sometimes needing more than one can to complete the words. Her mom makes the best chicken soup. At one point Judy imagined there must be an army of cooks in the kitchen helping make all of the soup she eats; with a cute picture showing that image brings this humorous concept to life. But the theme of what author Meredith Villano conveys is hope and love is needed when children are sick. With the longevity of time Judy has to spend in the hospital, Villano brings out how the imagination of children makes the best of a dismal situation. Happiness is found in small details, such as when Judy is given a pair to tap-shoes for her birthday by a nurse. She then strives to tap-dance her way out of the hospital.

Hope and love, along with proper medical care pays off. Judy goes home and has the good fortune to have her friends from the hospital stop by to visit her. She sees Maya with a head full of hair, having had it grow back. Mark gets a super-hero cape to wear around his neck as he no longer needs his wheelchair. Hillary and Judy dance together making up their own routine. The best part of being home is having mom’s chicken soup, with lots of the letters of the alphabet so she can make special messages.

Meredith Villano wrote a perfect children’s book, especially for any youngster afflicted with a disease or in need of hospitalization. Having Warriors Eat Alphabet Soup around to be read to them or for the children to read it for themselves, will carry their imaginations far away from the dismal halls of a hospital into the realm of all possibilities. This book should be in the gift shop of every children’s care facility, as well as being a great “get-well” gift for any child with an illness. Inherent with a positive attitude and all good thoughts, those needing to heal will become warriors as they gain strength from Judy and her friends.