Title: Peanut Butter’s Problem
Author: Brian Taylor
Publisher: Brian Taylor Books
ISBN: 979-8-89395-146-2
Pages: 42
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewer: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
It is remarkable how easily children’s minds can be manipulated with words and images read to them in a book, and in Peanut Butter’s Problem by creative author Brian Taylor, readers are taken on a journey into the personified uncluttered refrigerator of a hard-working woodcutter.
The story is told how the peanut butter jar is always neglected as the woodcutter picks up other items to eat, such as once when the woodcutter picks up the peanut butter jar and thinks to himself “I don’t want peanut butter,” and places it back on the shelf. The excerpt of the book is, “Peanut butter knew he was a tasty food that can put you in a happy mood.” This neglect of eating peanut butter begins to give the poor peanut butter jar sadness and the other food items in the refrigerator all join in the discussion that peanut butter needs a sweet item to complement its enjoyment for the woodcutter. The lemon, butter, ketchup, and even hot sauce sympathize with the sadness of peanut butter. Then the idea hits them – how about pairing peanut butter with honey! The woodcutter gives that a try, but it turns out he is allergic to honey, so that’s not an option. Time goes on until one day there is a knock on the door, and wondering who it might be he answers the door and sees his old lady neighbor Sadie O’Grady holding items on a tray as a gift. There was some home-made soup, grape jam and a pie. Well, once the woodcutter paired the peanut butter with the jelly on bread, the unbelievably awesome flavor combination became a favorite, and the jar of peanut butter was smiling in happiness. The story ends with the woodcutter, Sadie O’Grady and a friend all enjoying trays of food of which peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are served. In fact, the woodcutter gives Mrs. O’Grady the remaining peanut butter to take home as a gift.
The book pages with alternating images of the peanut butter along with the other items in the refrigerator, and images of the woodcutter in his cabin. The text of the words has a soft rhyme and beat to them, making the story feel like a children’s fantasy tale being told. The combination of images and text makes for an enjoyable bedtime, or anytime, story to be read to the youngest of children. It may even stir up a youngster’s appetite to ask for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! A delightful and humorous children’s picture book, Peanut Butter’s Problem reminds kids that life’s challenges are easier to handle when friends lend a helping hand.
