cover image Monsieur Thermidor: A Fantastic Fishy Tale

Monsieur Thermidor: A Fantastic Fishy Tale

Richard Kidd. Blackbirch Press, $16.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-1-56711-800-1

Electrically bright scenes of sea life populated by shapes made from salt-dough transform this somewhat perplexing story of a lobster chef into a charming entree, the first book from a husband-and-wife team. Monsieur Thermidor is a lobster who owns an underwater bistro: ""Every evening, sea creatures swam from fathoms around to enjoy his famous seaweed soup."" When he's caught, then purchased by a failing restaurateur, he looks so miserable that chef Henry decides not to kill him. The grateful lobster shares his Seaweed Soup recipe, saves the business and returns to the sea to open a new Chez Thermidor. Literal-minded youngsters may notice that the lobster's fishy friends are dead beside him in the store display, and may wonder whether or not Henry dares to serve seafood while the lobster Thermidor is in residence. Others will simply delight in the illustrator's comical, fashionable fish characters, her clever manipulation of perspective and her royal blue, goggle-eyed hero, dressed in a chef's hat. A recipe for salt-dough is included. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)