When picky eater Felix finds himself in a pickle, his best friend, Fiona, gently helps him widen his culinary horizons.
Felix brings the same lunch to school every day: sprouts on buttered oat bread. He will also eat pasta with butter. And he loves macaroni and cheese. No need to try anything new. But on the night of his friend Fiona’s half-birthday celebration, Felix finds himself facing down an unfamiliar — and anxiety-provoking — menu. Will he leave the restaurant hungry, or can Fiona convince him to give new tastes a try? With singular compassion and humor, Rosemary Wells once again shows how the balm of friendship can help buffer a familiar moment of childhood angst.
Without disapproval or exaggeration, Wells quietly addresses the common discomfort of selective eating disorder and eases Felix through the situation with kindness. His journey to the other side is cause for celebration. As with the other titles in this tender series, Wells illustrates how a young person facing a problem can be comforted with the balm of friendship. Fans of these sweet guinea pigs will smile at another one of life's small victories.
—Kirkus Reviews
Wells’s recognizable, friendly watercolor and pencil illustrations gently portray Felix’s concerns about the unfamiliar without allowing them to overwhelm the story. At story’s end, despite his fears, Felix gamely eats “twelve new things!” Food-averse kids probably won’t experience such instant and dramatic results, but they will likely be comforted to see that they aren’t alone in their food fears.
—The Horn Book