Just Try It!

by Phil Rosenthal, Luke Flowers (Illustrator), Lily Rosenthal

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.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Childrens, Growth Mindset, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2024

About the author

Television writer and producer who is best known as the creator, writer and executive producer for the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable, sweet, cute and encouraging! I adored this book and love the concept of simply having to *try* something. Maybe you'll love it! Maybe you won't. But it just takes one taste to find out. The ending is especially surprising, clever and hilarious ;-D And for fans of "Somebody Feed Phil" will have extra special meaning ;)

Love this is a father/daughter completion, and the love and respect between them shines through in a seemingly simple story :)

Also love the illustrations. Very fitting and help to tell the story. All the details on the food trucks are awesome!

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and funny children’s book that hits in the theme of picky eating. I thought the illustrations provided a bright and vibrant landscape to the book and the story engaging.

Thank you Simon Kids for gifting me a copy to review.

[Sarah BT]

A fairly predictable just try new food picture book. It's nice and simple and has a fun ending with the tables turned on Dad as he has to try the roller coaster.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about trying new foods and for once a "celebrity written" one doesn't utterly suck.

Not that they all do, but if anyone sees my reviews regularly, you know I have a love/hate relationship with them.

But seriously, this book is a fun one that introduces kids to linguine with clams and lox and cream cheese. Also the refrain "just try it" is one that all of us should take into life!

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this book I knew I needed to grab it for my daughter because she is the pickiest eater ever hahaha. We enjoyed this book but I don’t think it helped make her want to try more foods. It was an enjoyable read that I think a lot of parents and kids can relate.
We would recommend this to everyone!

[IfCatsCouldRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly what I thought it would be. I was hoping for trying different foods throughout, liking some and disliking some but happy to have tried either way.

However, I like she decided on her own to try something she KNEW she didn't like only to find out she did like it.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. I received an ARC and found myself smiling the entire way through.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

A father and daughter visit a food truck festival. The daughter is nervous because she knows that her dad is going to make her try new things and she hates trying new things. And lo and behold, when he tries to enforce their "rule" of having to at least try something, the child, not surprisingly, loses it and screams NO! The daughter apologies and does try the new thing and does end up liking it and she moves on to try other new things.

First off, horribly written, as are most celebrity author books. Second, I'm torn: I recognize that children need to try new things to broaden their horizons but when the child yelled at him, I don't get why the father didn't back off and respect her boundaries in a strange, overwhelming place.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bright and happy artwork make up this story. The artwork is just as edible as the food in the picture. It's a simple message. "Just Try it.

Father Phil and Daughter Lil go to a food truck party to try all the great food. It's not regular food, but sort of speciality food. I love the names of the trucks and all the foods in the book. There is a bagel with lox and linguine with clams and other things.

The daughter only likes a few things and she likes what she likes. Dad has one rule, "Just try one bite."

That's about the story. It's obviously a love of food. This is a fun book.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: Lil and her father are at a food festival with many different types of foods. Her father tries coaxing his daughter to try the foods, but she stubbornly refuses. He offers her a pretzel with mustard, to which she reacts with an angry scream and throws her arms in the air, causing the mustard to go on his shirt. She apologizes while her father washes off the stain.

While waiting, Lil takes a bite. Will she like this or any of the other food?

Comments: This was one patient father.
"Try it; you'll like it" is a common request that many kids and parents will relate to in this humorous picture book.

The illustrations were rendered digitally.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute picture book about a father and daughter (written by a father and daughter!) who go to a food truck festival. The daughter is very picky and doesn't want to try anything but her dad reminds her of the "just try it once" rule. She has a meltdown but apologizes and then does try something she thought would be gross - and likes it! Then they go on a feeding frenzy to all the foodtrucks, which are drawn in great detail. Then they come to the rollercoaster portion of the festival and the dad is too full to ride but the daughter reminds him of the rule, "just try it once," to the detriment of the dad's stomach! ;)

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Phil Rosenthal and am a fan of his food shows (I'll Have What Phil's Having and Somebody Feed Phil) and I love the message that kids should try new foods once. But in the book, Phil expects little Lil to try foods that are a big stretch from her limited list of acceptable foods like cheese pizza and rice, and Lil is bratty about refusing to try the food truck foods her dad is so excited about. However, Lil tries one of the foods, and instantly, she wants to try everything and loves it all. This might be considered fantasy, but I don't see this convincing any little picky eaters to "just try it!"

[Danielle T · Rating 4 out of 5]

We won this last year in a bin of picture books, but H was a little too young for it at the time. Now, she can recognize foods and it's a good message: just try it because you don't know if you like it or not if you avoid it! I'd definitely be interested in trying all the things Phil and Lil come across.

also I don't think I've actually watched an episode of Somebody Feed Phil, so I'll add that to my queue.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous look at a picky eater and how her dad works hard to get her to try new things. When she finally does, she discovers how much she likes all sorts of foods. I love the end when she turns his words back on him so he rides the roller coaster.

[Carolyn Whitzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very simple book for young readers. Having never had picky eater children, I don’t know whether the ‘mustard incident’ approach would work. But it’s a funny cheerful book with good illustrations.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the idea of “Just try it” for kids facing new foods. It’s the approach we took as parents. I also love Phil, his enthusiasm for food is contagious! Cute book, who knows maybe once you conquer mustard you really will love all those other foods. It would be fun to read it with a picky eater.

[Emily F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book 😍

[Linzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son just received this book from his foodie Uncle. It's absolutely adorable, easy to read, and full of colorful and cute illustrations! A great addition to your kiddos library.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN book! My child was inspired to eat even more foods after reading this book together. Currently, he’s most interested in trying….durian….among other things new to his young palate. Bon appétit.

[Kelly Clancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of the whole Rosenthal family from watching every season of Somebody Feed Phil. I had to get this adorable book for my picky eater great nephew. I’m certainly he will enjoy it.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love Somebody Feed Phil and some of the best episodes include his family. This was a cute book that I hope our grandchildren will enjoy as much as I did.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing Phil Rosenthal speak & learning he & daughter Lily had written a kid’s book, I had to “Just Try It”!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have the same rule, and I think this book will resonate with and amuse the picky eaters in my life.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A father encourages his daughter to try new things.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super cute book with a lot of fun throughout! Would recommend!

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good lesson on just trying new food. I liked how the dad was encouraged to try the roller coaster at the end.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picky eater goes to a food festival with her father and learns to try new things. fun and easy read. Toddler and up

[Arman Waggoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun quick read while your parents are shopping at Target