The Trouble with Cauliflower

by Jane Sutton

Sadie has made her best friend Mortimer a delicious stew . . . with cauliflower! Doesn t Sadie know that cauliflower causes extreme badluck? Out of courtesy Mortimer eats the stew, and as he expects, has the worst day ever. But when Sadie tricks him into eating cauliflower again the next day, Mortimer has a day full of good luck (he even wins a free pizza!) and is forced to give up his silly superstitions . . . until he drinks lemonade, of course. Drinking lemonade always causes it to rain!

Jane Sutton has created two truly lovable new characters and Jim Harris brings them to life with his charming illustrations that are full of funny details.

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

ebook

Published May 1, 2013

About the author

I write children's books because I am immature, or charmingly childlike, depending on your point of view.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chosen for the illustrator as I really wanted to see what Harris would do in another story. Plus I love wombats and other Australian & Aussie-adjacent animals (instead mice, cows, and bunnies all the time). The illustrations were even more fun (and attractive) than I'd hoped. I love the expressions on the other critters' faces, and the details of clothing, shops, and other furnishings & settings.

I was also pleasantly surprised at the story, with its wonderful anti-superstition message. Funny, and important, too. Highly recommended.

I would love to find more by both Harris and Sutton, too.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations: the foods look really yummy, the two houses are very unique, the roller coaster was really fun, and all the creatures are appealing.

As an adult I saw where the story was going and knew what the message would be, but it’s a good message, and this story is told in a really fun way. This could make a good read aloud book and could be great for starting a discussion between adults and children and among children as well. Despite being able to predict the whole thing, I found this very enjoyable and will recommend it to some young people I know.

Re the message: My mother's mother played the same trick on her, one of the stories from her childhood that she told me when I was a child.

[rivka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chanukah present for my daughter, who had really loved Me and the Weirdos. She very much enjoyed this too.

It's silly and fun, has great illustrations, and a little lesson snuck in too.

[Aimee]

This hilarious book explores friendship and superstitions while teaching children to think positively when presented with something new.

The very detailed pictures in this book show the emotions of each character. The facial expressions of the characters are done to get their point of view across to the reader. These expressions that the illustrator uses are identical to children when tasting a brand new food. The friends are a koala and an emu but because both animals are similar in color the illustrator has chosen to color the emu a lavender color. This is reminiscent of old ladies with their purple gray hair. This creates the image of the emu being the older and wiser of the two characters.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Mortimer...everytime he eats cauliflower, he has bad luck the next day(even though he loves cauliflower). His friend, Sadie, thinks this is all rubbish. So, she is determined to get Mortimer to change his mind. She makes him her 'vegetable surprise casserole'. Sadie doesn't tell him she added cauliflower to the stew!

When Mortimer finds out about Sadie's surprise ingredient, he is mortified (and relieved) that his 'bad luck' was just a nervous case of silly superstition.

Used for "It's Green and Leafy: Not Trees...Vegetables" storytime-April, 2010.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about superstitions. Mortimer is scared to eat cauliflower because he thinks it will bring him bad luck. Would be good to use with younger students.

[Lizanell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While the title is what initially grabbed my attention, I'm not sure it really captures the books "essence". I like that it expresses, in a fairly straightforward tale, that our expectations are a huge part of every day. if you think you're going to have a bad day, you're right!

[McNeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is nice to see Cauliflower have its day in the sun. It is currently the 'IT' vegetable. Jane Sutton must have known this would happen!

[Galus Villegas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the watercolour detail

[Susan R · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 year old says, "If you have anything you think makes you unlucky, you should read this book."

[Treasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mortimer is convinced that anytime he eats cauliflower, he has bad luck the next day. After his friend Sadie serves him a casserole with cauliflower in it and doesn't tell him, Mortimer has a perfectly good day. Could the bad luck all be in his head?

Mortimer and Sadie are both great characters, and I really enjoyed this book. I especially like that Mortimer's main objection to cauliflower is not the taste - he says that he actually likes cauliflower except for the whole bad luck thing. And I like that Mortimer is able to accept that Sadie is right that the cauliflower is not what causes the bad luck.

I would have liked this book even more if Mortimer had had the chance to pass his driving test, which he failed the day he had bad luck. That would have made things feel a little more resolved. I so wanted him to pass the test and buy his purple sports car with green tires.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little story about superstitions and trying new foods. We really enjoyed reading it together and I loved the side commentary from our girls about how they are soooo adventurous in trying foods (sort of, anyway.) The book has terrific illustrations and an engaging narrative. It's perfect for bedtime reading and we really enjoyed reading it together.

[Paige Lofton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well written and very interesting. It is a great example of how power our mindset can be. If we have a negative mindset about something then more an likely it's going to have a negative outcome. It's important to have a positive mindset going into something so that it is more prone to turn out well.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun story about food superstitions. Can cauliflower ruin your day? Of course not! Everyone knows that it's mushrooms ruin your day.

Great illustrations as well. The koala is really cute - love his shorts and big shoes.

[Skylar Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little story about the folly of being superstitious.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great message in this story about superstition and luck.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story & fun illustrations! I like the characters, and I like that the cauliflower turns out not to be the bad guy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging illustrations with lots to look at.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story for my boys (ages 4 & 6). It taught them that things aren't always what you think and sometimes the problems you think you have just happen because you believe they will.

[Krystyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a silly & cute story about the bad effects of cauliflower. Lol!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, with adorable animal illustrations

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

About superstition. I like the use of the scientific method. :-)

[David Vintinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it when he stubbed his toe and spilled his orange juice!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zack loved this tale of Mortimer and the unlucky cauliflower. Our 2nd time borrowing this book.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorie kind of illustrations: detailed and vintage