Mmm ... Donuts ....

The Donut Chef

by Bob Staake

I have a confession to make. I'm one of those people who like to children's books to have a lesson embedded in the story. It doesn't have to be overly preachy or obvious or thought-provoking, but just something to make you think, if only a little bit. Even if kids can't always comprehend big meaning and implications, they get the gist of these things.

Now that you know about my lofty ideals (well, one of them), you will understand why I was quite happy to stumble upon The Donut Chef, which is a nod to the overly competitive marketplace of outlandish food items that Americans are so accustomed to.

Summary

One day, a charmingly round donut chef notices a busy street corner that he thinks would be the perfect spot for a donut shop. He cleans up the kitchen, whips together some flour, sugar and lard and begins selling his donuts to happy folks of every age (presumably he leased the space before all this, but that isn’t mentioned ...). His donuts are a huge hit, and it's not long before news of his success spreads and a competing donut shop opens up RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

The donut chef suddenly finds himself battling for customers by making unlimited quantities of artful and outlandish donuts in order to compete with his fancy neighbor. Cherry-frosted lemon bar, peanut-brickle buttermilk, gooey cocoa-mocha silk - nothing is too crazy for these donut chefs! But soon, the customers get bored. The donuts don’t even resemble donuts anymore, what with all the crazy flavors, colors and shapes the chefs have baked! But it isn't until one day when a little girl makes a request for a simple glazed donut that the donut chef realizes the beautiful appeal of a classic. He revamps his shop - Amazing Glazed: Simply Glazed Donuts -, and gains back his loyal customers.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Yes, although you might need a snack after you finish! I'm not always a fan of rhyming verse in picture books, but Staake did a great job with this whimsical tale. The art is hilarious (the donut chef is a round and jovial man who looks slightly like the Michelan man, and the customers are a charming array of shapes and colors), and the subtle message is a great one in our modern food world where crazy options abound. Definitely recommended ... and some munchies close at hand!