Someplace New! by Phil and Lily Rosenthal

Today's read is the second in a series from a popular Netflix show, Just Try It! I read the first book, enjoyed it, and am hoping that this one is just as fun. 

SOMEPLACE NEW!

Just Try It!

by Phil & Lily Rosenthal

Illustrated by Luke Flowers

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 10th!!!

In this companion to the instant New York Times bestselling Just Try It! by Netflix star Phil Rosenthal and his daughter Lily, an encouraging dad eases his daughter’s worries about staying at Grandma’s for the first time.

Lil is getting ready to stay with Grandma on her own for the first time. How exciting! Except…what if she only eats broccoli? What if her bed is made of rocks? What if the mailman is a giant elephant?

All these questions make Lil scared, but Phil has the perfect piece of advice for soothing her Just try it. Sometimes we’re scared of what we don’t know, and that’s okay. With a little help, Lil is ready to try.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With humor and heart, the fears of going someplace new meet a wholesome message.

It's time to visit Grandma's house, but Lil is a bit nervous about going there. After all, Grandma has always visited her, and she's never gone to Grandma's house. There are so many things which could go wrong. Maybe, Grandma only cooks broccoli or, maybe, Grandma only has itchy blankets. The possible problems are endless. But her father might find a way to get Lil to, at least, not let fear completely take over.

While there's an obvious message to this book, and it's not exactly hard to guess where the entire thing is going even with the first page, it's still a very fun read. Little Lil's fears are very understandable and many young readers will sympathize with the situation...maybe, not in connection with their grandmothers, but there are similar circumstances. From here, it's the humor which demands attention. Lil's fears edge to going over-the-top, and the illustrations play on this. Smiles and giggles are guaranteed as the thoughts grow sillier and sillier. The ending rounds everything off with wholesome goodness.

The text and message fit well to the age group. The wording is keep pointed and concise, making sure to bring across each moment with potency. It keeps the pacing high, making it a nice read-aloud for group or individual settings. The illustrations are bright, pack energy, and let the humor come across clearly. At the same time, they bring across the needed warmth of the grandmother/granddaughter relationship to wrap up the message in a lovely way.

And here they are...

Phil Rosenthal is the creator and host of the Emmy-nominated Somebody Feed Phil. He also created the hit CBS comedy, Everybody Loves Raymond, which was nominated for over seventy Emmy awards, and won fifteen awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2003 and 2005. He is also the bestselling author of the book Somebody Feed Phil the Book. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Monica Horan (who played Amy on Everybody Loves Raymond), and they have two children. Visit him at PhilRosenthalWorld.com.

Budding restaurateur and New York Times bestselling author Lily Rosenthal Royal has built a career at the intersection of storytelling, food, and community. She also serves as the creative director of the beloved Los Angeles diner Max & Helen’s.

Luke Flowers is the illustrator of more than fifty children’s books. He illustrated the New York Times bestselling A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers and Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic. He is also both author and illustrator of the Moby Shinobi series which has sold more than one million copies. When Luke isn’t in his creative cave he enjoys puppetry, playing banjo, basketball, and outdoor adventures with his family. He lives with his wife and three children in Colorado Springs.

Today's read... Just Try It! by Phil and Lily Rosenthal

JUST TRY IT!

by Phil and Lily Rosenthal

Illustrated by Luke Flowers

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 5th!!!

From Netflix star and New York Times bestselling author Phil Rosenthal and his daughter Lily comes a hilarious picture book about a food-loving dad encouraging his picky eater daughter to just try something new.

Phil has one rule about try everything at least once. Otherwise, how will you know what you like? His daughter Lil disagrees. She already knows what she likes—just bread and pasta with no sauce—and that’s all there is to it!

When the two go to a food truck festival, Phil tries introducing Lil to all kinds of delicious cuisine, but she doesn’t budge. Just when it looks like it’s going to be a very long day, an unexpected mustard accident changes everything.

GOODREADS     /      SIMON & SCHUSTER

    MY TIDBITS

A father's enthusiasm slams against the picky eating habits of a daughter in a way, which leaves a smile.

There's a rule in Phil's family: try everything at least once. Lil, his daughter isn't convinced that it's a good rule, though. When they head to a festival to find food trucks offering all sorts of treats, Phil can't wait to try everything. Lil won't touch a thing until a strange accident changes everything.

This is an energetic read, which hits upon the simple idea that everything should be given, at least, a try...well, when it comes to food. The father, Phil, is a food enthusiast, and his excitement beams from the page. Lil's attitude clashes hard, creating a wonderful contrast. While her behavior could slide into a negative direction, the author has cleverly made sure to use slightly odd food choices to keep readers sympathetic and understanding her attitude. After all, who wants clams on their noodles? 

The illustrations and text work well together and build the words around various scenes. It adds to the active atmosphere of the colorful food trucks and smiley Phil.

The message also hits with a bit of humor and seals off in the expected, positive direction. This does make a nice read-aloud for various settings.

And here they are...

Phil Rosenthal is the creator and host of the Emmy-nominated Somebody Feed Phil. He also created the hit CBS comedy, Everybody Loves Raymond, which was nominated for over seventy Emmy awards, and won fifteen awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2003 and 2005. He is also the bestselling author of the book Somebody Feed Phil the Book. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Monica Horan (who played Amy on Everybody Loves Raymond), and their two children. Visit him at PhilRosenthalWorld.com.

Lily Rosenthal is an actor, writer, and producer known for her love of food across platforms. After graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Lily ventured into the world of acting and influencing, working with restaurants and brands to establish herself in the LA food scene. In her free time, Lily developed the concept for Liv a Lil, a nonprofit that brings restaurants across Los Angeles together for cultural collaborations, giving all proceeds to an organization of the chef’s choice. She credits her father, Phil, for giving her a love of travel and genuine excitement towards food due to the family rule instilled in Lily at a young age: just try it.

Luke Flowers is the illustrator of more than fifty children’s books. He illustrated the New York Times bestselling A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers and Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic. He is also both author and illustrator of the Moby Shinobi series which has sold more than one million copies. When Luke isn’t in his creative cave he enjoys puppetry, playing banjo, basketball, and outdoor adventures with his family. He lives with his wife and three children in Colorado Springs.