So what on earth is "Vegetable Glue"? As this quirky and original story unfolds we meet a young girl who seems to be quite literally falling apart at the seams. The book opens with the girl playing with her dog, and (well there's no skirting around it) losing her arm. Quite careless of her you'd think but there's more to this odd scene than meets the eye.
You see this little girl doesn't like to eat her greens. Carrots are catastrophic, beans are bunk, and as for sprouts? INSUFFERABLE!
So to keep her body from falling apart, the little girl must tow around a huge vat of vegetable glue. It's gloopy, it's green, it's sticky and if she doesn't keep a regular supply on tap, she might just lose her head (or worse, her bottom! AGHH!)
Susan Chandler and Elena Odriozola's quirky tale does actually have a good solid message underpinning the slightly surreal scenario of this disjointed little madam. You see the little girl's grandma (still running marathons at the grand old age of 104) doesn't need vegetable glue because her tummy is full of it.
How so? Well Granny always ate her vegetables and greens and did not leave the table until every glorious vitamin-filled scrap was gone. Granny is as fit as a fiddle and definitely doesn't lose any of her bits. So while the little girl gorges on cake and crisps, sweets and snacks, Granny tells her that it's still not too late to change her ways if she just changes her diet a little bit.
Reprinted by Hutton Grove Publishing, this story really does deserve a second outing as it's fabulously original and entertaining. Get your fix of vegetable glue today!
Charlotte's favourite bit: Obviously it's going to be the bit where the poor little girl's bottom falls off after a rather over-enthusiastic trump. Parp!
Daddy's favourite bit: It's surreal, weird and we love it - particularly the way it conveys a nice little message about nutrition and the importance of polishing off your veggies. Wonderfully original stuff!
(Kindly sent to us for review by Hutton Grove Publishing)
"Vegetable Glue"
Written by Susan Chandler
Illustrated by Elena Odriozola
Published by Hutton Grove Publishing (reprint)
Release Date: 30th July 2015