Abby Dreams of Food, written by Beatriz Fabrega with illustrations by Danielle Fabrega, is a children's picture book that follows its titular character as she explores her favorite pastime of eating. The book begins with an introduction to Abby as she is waking up, then swiftly moving to the kitchen where her mom has made her a deliciously sweet breakfast. Abby's mother is a chef and mother and daughter seem to go from one meal to the next throughout the course of the day, with Abby being reminded to wash her hands when she asks to help. Abby is still learning the art of creative cooking and plating but is regularly encouraged to try her best and continue to practice, which she does when she is both awake and active and even sleeping as she dreams of making the perfect dish.

The concept between Abby Dreams of Food is a good one as it explores the relationship between families and the meals they prepare and share, and is practical in the sense that the kitchen is almost always the place where everyone congregates. Beatriz Fabrega does well in establishing Abby's infatuation with food and carrying this theme through each page even when the rhythm of her narrative gets a bit jumbled. My young reader was absolutely enthralled by the gorgeous illustrations. Danielle Fabrega is a master talent when it comes to the artwork, bringing Abby's world to life in a style that resembles a bridging between sketch and strong watercolor. The book concludes with the recipes Abby and her mother used, and are the perfect accompaniment to a story about cooking. Recommended.

The early reader Abby Dreams of Food: Rhyming Story and Cookbook for Kids, written by Beatriz Fábrega and illustrated by Danielle Fábrega, tells the story of a little girl called Abby who is totally obsessed with food. Her happiness seems to radiate from and about food, and no wonder, as her mother is a chef who is forever cooking up culinary delights in her own kitchen. However, whenever Abby tries to cook anything, it comes out as a total disaster. Nevertheless, her mother keeps on encouraging her to persevere, as “practice makes perfect.” What happens then makes for an interesting outcome. The book ends with recipes for the following dishes, all of which have formed part of the story: ice cream swirl; cinnamon toast with peanut butter; turkey sliders; banana boats; soda floats; tomato soup; corn fritters; chicken and pink sauce lasagna; creamy spaghetti with sautéed ham; rice and beans with bacon bits; garlic poppers; and chicken cassava pie.

Beatriz Fábrega’s Abby Dreams of Food: Rhyming Story and Cookbook for Kids is a full-color early reader that is replete with fun (and calories). Aimed at a target market of learners ranging from Grade K to 3, the book is bound to appeal to youngsters, with its central characters being Abby, her mother, and her dog. The dog appears in the illustrations only and is such a captivating hound and so amusingly depicted that the reader’s heart must inevitably respond warmly to its wiles. Abby’s range of emotions from excitement about what the next dish is going to be to her disappointment whenever she makes a flop is conveyed in such a way that it should encourage a heartfelt response from the reader. So why not join in the fun and buy a copy for your child or grandchild today (or else purchase it for your class if you are a teacher)!