Pete Won't Eat (I Like to Read?) by Emily Arnold McCully

I Like to Read

by Emily Arnold McCully

Pete the pig does not want to eat his slop, but cannot go out to play with his brother and sisters until he does.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Childrens, Family, Juvenile, Animals, Storytime

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Emily Arnold McCully received the Caldecott Medal for Mirette on the High Wire. The illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers, she divides her time between Chatham, New York, and New York City.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hey, I was fully with Pete on this one--not to incite childhood rebellion here--GREEN slop?! Ewwwww....

When I was a kid, I was forced to eat awful things like peas. And Liver and Onions. And cow tongue! DOUBLE EWWWWWW.... What were my parents thinking, forcing my sister and I to eat that nastiness? (Yep, we had to stay at the table until it was all gone or we got a spanking and STILL had to eat it.) I am quite sure that my mother never cried or bemoaned the fact that she was a "mean mom."

All that being said, I don't serve my child those foods, and my child doesn't have to clean her plate. Wow, this book really pulled out a lot in me here. I'm glad that Pete made a good choice, but I wish it could have happened differently.

[Nicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a bit annoyed when the mom called herself a "bad mom" for making Pete eat food he didn't think he liked.

[Abbie Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book 5 stars because it is a great beginning reader book. It has easy words, and cute illustrations as well. It also deals with a problem that children face when they are younger.

Pete and his three siblings are sat down for the meal their mother prepared. All the siblings eat the slop, but pete won't eat. All of his siblings go outside to play since they finished their meals, but Pete is not allowed to until he eats his slop. He watches the other children play, and wants to himself. He ends up trying the slop so he can play, and he ends up loving it! This book has the important message for children of trying the food on their plate and healthy eating habits. It also helps with the characters being pigs, as animals in books that human like characteristics such as they can talk, wear clothes, and sit at a dining table to eat. Personifying animals that kids love helps deliver important messages as well as getting children into reading them. I really enjoyed the illustrations as well, with them being simple and not over done. A great book for super young readers!

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pigs are known primarily for eating the slop farmers feed them. Of course not all little piggies are the same. In this one, little Pete the piggy can't make himself eat the same green gack his family of ham'lys like from their piggy mom. His refusal I find quite inspirational, since every piggy deserves to stand up for their Independence to cry wee wee wee their own way home. But it becomes apparent that Pete is simply too scared to try what most people consider gross (for a reason, let's be honest) and mom's attempts at toughlove psychology are backfiring against her. Keeping Pete home until he eats the green goo is not helping. What can a mommy sow do? So she uses a kinder method: something better tasting like a sandwich. And that does the trick! See, using the psychology of peeling away the onion skin to expose the bulb is counterproductive and wrong. Kindness is how it's done.
Four stars
Pete the Piggy deserves to go to the market!!!! He totally rules!

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete Won't Eat is a fabulous book for young readers! I read it to my young nieces and nephew. My nephew is a very picky eater so the book really resonated. The illustrations are terrific and the storyline is thoughtful and encouraging.

I really like the back of the book where it says, "Emily Arnold McCully likes to read, draw, and make books for children."

I will definitely be looking for other books by Emily Arnold McCully. In looking at her website, many of her books are about girls/women, pursuing your dreams, and being different.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is really a reader more than a picture book. But, it's fine, until the end. Ugh, I hate that the mom finally gives in to Pete's temper tantrum - I wouldn't use this as a reader or during story time.

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Au’s been really enjoying this book at 28 months. Good lesson on trying new foods and compromise (sorta). This is one of the books Au has pretty much memorized!

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great beginning reader.

[Aurelia S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Au’s been really enjoying this book at 28 months. Good lesson on trying new foods and compromise (sorta). This is one of the books Au has pretty much memorized!

[Kristi Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

When mom makes green slop for dinner the piglets slurp it down, except Pete. Mom tells him he must stay at the table until he eats. The other piglets go out to play while Pete sits and sits and sits. At the same time Mom begins to struggle with making Pete eat something he doesn't like and decides to make him a sandwich, Pete decides to try the green slop and finds that he does indeed like it. Conversations between Mom, Pete, and the other piglets increases the reading level of this text. Children familiar with Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham may make a prediction of the ending. Comparing it to a personal experience is a great way to introduce this book to young readers. Themes associated with this title include the following: early reader, family relationships, and humor.

This title is recommended for first graders or children from 4 to 8. It is aligned to the Common Core State Standards in kindergarten and first grade for Reading Standards for Foundational Skills, Informational Text, and Literature. In addition to the above, the book is also aligned to the CCSS for Language for first grade. Second grade CCSS alignments include Reading Standards for Literature and Speaking and Listening.

[Alyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library because the title made me think of my son. My son loved this book. He picked this book just about every night when I told him to pick out books to read.

Pete refuses to eat the slop his mom made because it is the color green and he doesn't like green. He does eventually try it and decides that he does like it.

I didn't like this book that much. I thought the illustration was okay. The story was okay too. I disliked how the mother was crying, calling herself a mean mom, because she wanted Pete to eat the green slop. I disliked how she gave in and made something that he would want to eat. What sort of message is this book trying to give to kids? If you don't eat your food and your mom refuses to make you something else then she is a mean mom? That if you sit around long enough then they will give in and give you what you want?

I would have given it two stars but since my son loved it so much, I bumped it up to three stars.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

What parent, aunt/uncle or child care giver has presented food to a child and because they don't like the color, or looks of it they won't eat it...even though it is delicious!

This is a true to life story, and I guess it would be good for parents to read to their stubborn child...but that is what I didn't like about it...that it is true.

I also don't like about this book is the poor mother. She feels bad that she won't let Pete go play until he eats his green slop...she starts to cry and decides to fix him a sandwich...but before she can give him the sandwich, he tries the green slop and decides he likes it....yes this is a true story of kids, but I don't like children who victimize their parents. But at least the mom stuck to her guns! It didn't love it..but I can totally see this book is needed as a resource!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an experience familiar to many parents, Pete refuses to eat the slop his mother serves her children. It's green, and Pete doesn't like the color green, especially when it comes to slop. The battle of wills is on with Pete refusing to eat his food, and his mother just as insistent that he must eat it before going outside to play. Just as she has second thoughts and prepares a sandwich, Pete caves in and eats the slop. The pen and ink and watercolor illustrations are delightful and allow readers to note the facial expressions of Pete and his family. Using pigs as the main characters in the story works well and adds to the book's humor.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Pete refuses to eat the green slop that his mother has prepared, he learns that there are consequences to his choices.

Although it is formatted like a picture book, this entry in the "I Like to Read" series features a simple plot, large print, and simple sentences that will help new readers develop their skills. I liked that the story also dared to show how moms feel when they have to punish their children; it seems important for kids to know that parents don't create or enforce rules simply because they enjoy it, and this plot point makes "Pete Won't Eat" an excellent discussion starter.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pete is having a meal with his pig family, but he does not want to eat the green slop his mother serves. Everyone urges him to at least try it but he refuses. So he ends up sitting at the table for a long time. Motherly guilt (and a sandwich) combine with him testing the slop and discovering its good. All is well. This is an easy-reader with lots of repetition and flowing, friendly illustrations in simple McCully style. There's nothing wrong with the book, and it will attract those beginning readers. Still, it is extremely slight. I expect more from this author.

[Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book reminds me of when my younger sister didn't want to eat her vegetables and she had to stay behind to finish it. The book makes my heart go out for both mother and son. The mother hopes the son will take the nutrition, the son is stubborn and does not want to try the green soup. The theme of the story is that the mother's love is always the biggest and she would do anything for her child. This is a very good book for the beginning reader. It would be good for a child who already knows their abc's and trying to get on track with reading sentences.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many parents can relate to children outright refusing to eat. Young Pete refuses to eat what his mother has prepared that day and misses out on some fun with his siblings while Mom frets and worries. The ending will have parents laughing out loud when Pete finally decides that maybe what his Mom created isn't so bad after all.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mom Pig makes a special treat of green slop for her little piggies. All enjoy except for Pete. He is not interested in eating it at all. Even after his 3 siblings are allowed out to play, Pete still won't eat and must sit at the table until he does so. Cute illustrations and story but reads a bit like a decodable reader.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pete's a picky eater and is determined to stand his ground against eating the slop he is served. Mom and Pete go head to head and just as Mom caves in and makes a sandwich, Pete tries the slop and likes it.

Pen and ink, and watercolor illustrations support the story's emotional range. Text features plenty of repetition for beginning readers to gain confidence. PreK-2.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this one amusing but not spectacular and unfortunately can't remember much else about it. The illustrations are droll and add to the very simple text of the story with lively lines. This would be a good one to read with kids, particular because of the easy language level but it also has a mostly fun lesson about trying foods.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the "I Like To Read" easy-reader series, this is the story of a young pig who won't eat his food and thus is not allowed to play outside with the other kids. The story is quite boring and lacks development. However it is a fantastic book for emergent readers. Many repeated phrases and no complex words.

[Briony · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok read. I liked the simple text, but I was slightly annoyed that mom caved and made him a sandwich. I would have preferred if the mom did not see herself as a "mean mom." Tales of a Very Picky Eater would be a good compliment to this book.

[Allison Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little nervous about this book's plot - a young pig is stuck at the table until he eats his slop. Uh oh, pig's going to develop food issues... But then the book won me over when the mother pig is struck with guilt! "I am a mean mom!" Also, she has a laptop, so that's awesome. :)

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't blame Pete a bit for not wanting to eat his green slop. I wouldn't want to eat it either.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all the books in the I Like to Read series!

[Mel Raschke]

Pete won’t eat. As his siblings run off and have fun outdoors, Pete faces a plight known to many a kid: the admonishment from a mom to “stay until you eat

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

B-O-R-I-N-G!!! There was NOTHING unique that stood out in this book. NOTHING! I found it to be really mediocre. Illustrations, story, everything!

[Maggi Rohde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Successful low-level easy reader! Use to teach about trying new things.

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
A story about a picky eater and the struggle that happens between mom and child. Will Pete eat? Read and find out.... 2.5 stars

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you don't like what Mom cooks, she is a mean mom and should make you a sandwich instead. No, thank you.