Kid Lit Village Review: Frank and Bean, Food Truck Fiasco

Hello Readers! I’m excited to share a new book review with you. Today, I’m featuring FRANK AND BEAN: Food Truck Fiasco by Jamie Michalak and Bob Kolar. It is an early chapter book, published by Candlewick Press. It is part of the Candlewick Sparks series. I received a copy for review.

Kids will gobble up this hilarious second adventure starring Frank and Bean, who prove that, win or lose, true friends can make any competition go down easy

Synopsis

Frank likes peace and quiet. He likes his tea, his book, and his yoga mat. He is just settling in to enjoy them, when . . . honk! honk! honk! Here comes Bean with his new food truck! It is fun on wheels! It’s a rolling party! Bean is going to Food Truck Friday to sell his donuts. Bean’s donuts have zip. They have zing. They are sure to win the competition! Frank has something to sell, too. He has oatmeal. Oatmeal is boring. It needs zip. It needs zing. What if Bean’s donuts could help Frank’s oatmeal? What if donuts and oatmeal could work together, just like friends? Dry wit meets stylish, comical artwork as introspective Frank and gregarious Bean return in a tale for anyone who likes food, unlikely friendships, and laugh-out-loud funny adventures.

My Review:

I loved the contrast between the two characters, Frank and Bean. The zen, yoga loving Frank with his food tent vs. Bean, the loud partying, zippy donut maker. I think children will enjoy the story, there’s no doubt. I did find it a bit odd that Frank is a hot dog who prefers healthy food like oatmeal. And that bean, prefers donuts. But, to be fair, the rest of the characters are pretty random as well. Mad dog sells cupcakes, Crayon sells pizza and Mr. Pinecone sells pancakes. But maybe the randomness is part of the charm. When it comes to early readers, it has a great sense of fun, and books like this are needed to capture young readers hearts so… Bravo!

Contributors:

Jamie Michalak is the author of Frank and Bean, illustrated by Bob Kolar, which Booklist called “absurd, over-the-top, and laugh-out-loud funny.” She also wrote Joe and Sparky books, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz, and the picture book Dakota Crumb, Tiny Treasure Hunter, illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Jamie Michalak lives in Rhode Island.

Bob Kolar is the illustrator of many books for children. In addition to the first book about Frank and Bean, he illustrated AlphaOops! by Alethea Kontis, Nothing Like a Puffin by Sue Soltis, and Slickety Quick: Poems about Sharks by Skila Brown. Bob Kolar lives in Missouri.

Thank you for stopping by Kid Lit Village blog. Please support all our Kid Lit Village authors in whatever way you can. Leave a comment here, request their books from the library, or post a review!

If you’re curious about books by Cynthia Mackey and Paula Nasmith, please subscribe to my newsletter.