Most Marshmallows

by Rowboat Watkins

Most marshmallows are born into marshmallow families, play with marshmallow friends, and go to marshmallow school where they learn to be squishy. Most marshmallows read a book before bed and then fall asleep to dream ordinary marshmallow dreams.
But, this book isn't about most marshamallows, is it? No. That's because author Rowboat Watkins knows that, just like you, some marshmallows have big dreams, and just like you, these marshmallows can do anything they set their minds to. This sweet and silly book is an inspiring reminder to everyone that by being true to ourselves, each of us has the power to be extraordinary. Whether for a new parent or a recent graduate, the message here will fit the bill.

Another slightly off kilter book from rising picture book-maker Rowboat Watkins. The art (and subversive humor) has nods to Maurice Sendak (with whom Watkins studied), but is unlike anything else out there.

If you and your child are a fan of Rude Cakes, Pete With No Pants, and The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, you will love this book.

This book is ideal for:
• Read Aloud Book for preschoolers
• Early Reading book for toddlers
• Parents & Grandparents
• Recent high school and college graduate gifts
• Anyone looking for an empowering story

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

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2019

About the author

Rowboat Watkins is mostly a dad who likes to tell stories and draw. Nobody knows why his wife started calling him Rowboat...but she does. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely brilliant!!! It's the perfect blend of adorable, silly, and inspirational, with humor that all ages will appreciate. The marshmallows go to school! to learn to be squishy! and stand in rows! The careful observer (and all children are careful observers) will notice the classroom has diagrams of squishiness. The artwork is wonderful (and okay I'm just a sucker for illustrations made from photos of diorama), the scenes are made from marshmallows (duh!), construction paper, cardboard, acorn caps, cake sprinkles, and whatever else he needed :-) The text has that perfect rhythm that works wonderfully for reading aloud. PLUS (as if you needed more?!?!?) there is an inspirational message that we all have the ability to be awesome and achieve our dreams. Even if our dreams involve becoming a fire-breathing dragon.


Note: I think that Goodreads blurb for this book is trying too hard. Who wrote that? Obviously not Watkins. This book is perfect and does not need that long blurb flogging its perfectness, it can stand up on its own.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I get it. We can do anything we can imagine. What does that have to do with marshmallows? Nothing, really... unless you're in Rowboat Watkins's head.

Most of the enjoyment I got out of this was from looking at the pictures. They're pretty fun. I just wish there'd been more of a story to go with them. Think of the possibilities! In this book, though, we're just told about marshmallows. They live in families, they learn how to be squishy in school, and they don't dream at night (interesting fact... but not much to build a book around). Marshmallows do, however, have imaginations, so they can have dreams of the waking kind where they blast off in rocket ships or face down dragons.

Aside from the illustrations, this book is a bit weak. Even so, it's worth a look. You might get a chuckle out of the marshmallows going about their daily lives.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, yes, and yes.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Marshmallows is one of the most artistically creative picture books I have seen in some time. Mixed media photos of different marshmallows and all the things that (most of them) do! This is both a very funny and inspiring book that you should not miss out on, especially for the imaginative child (or adult!)

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

First blush: Anti-establishment. DO NOT BE A MARSHMALLOW! Be free! Do you own thing! Breath fire!
Second blush: This has been done before. Be yourself. Be whatever you want to be. How many times can we say this story.
Third blush: Those are some darn (only I didn't say darn) cute illustrations.
Fourth blush: This is a "YMMV" picture book.

[Cristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't want to read a book about Marshmallows who can do anything? It's positive and illustrates that anyone has the potential to do anything. This came home in my son's school book bag from the library, and I was thrilled to read it with the whole family. Dream big, little ones.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw this book I thought it looked a bit corny. As it turns out, the artwork is very clever and supports the story or perhaps the story supports the artwork. My grandchild (ages 3 and 7) liked it so much that we bought a copy after hearing it in a Zoom story time.

Recommended

[Chance Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imaginative mixed-media artwork with adorable squishy marshmallows and backgrounds with palpable textures paired with platitudes about how you can do anything you want if you dream of it.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun book for very small children!

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable artwork!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rowboat Watkins - wouldn't you read anything by a guy named Rowboat? Not show boat, not speed boat, just Rowboat. Here Rowboat gives us a charmer of a story about kids (marshmallows) who can do anything. It's not so much the message that charmed me, but the art. Who but an artist father would take pencil to a bag of marshmallows and come up with an entire classroom of kids? Clever, clever, Rowboat!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Most marshmallows don’t grow on trees or come from storks or even Mars.

Premise/plot: Just because MOST marshmallows don’t...doesn’t mean that a marshmallow can’t. The book explores the notion of conformity and nonconformity.

My thoughts: The book is quite imaginative for being about conformity. The illustrations are silly in an oddly wonderful way. This book is definitely whimsical.

Text: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Total: 7/10

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the art, enjoyed the message, love the end. One star off because the gratuitous gender-marking of the grown-up marshmallows feels weird and forced (eyelashes on the presumed mother, a suitcoat and tie on the presumed father). I prefer the way that all the kids have the same weird hair and eyes and no one has visible mouths unless required.

Library copy

[Olivia Thames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly cute, cuddly, and squishy, Rowboar Watkins's "Most Marshmallows" is a sweet tale about where Marshmallows (aka, any living creature) begins, and the unending potential of where they could go or what they could do! I would recommend this book for any classroom setting, library, or home book shelf for kids and adults!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowboat Watkins never fails to surprise me and he always makes me laugh. Who would have thought that marshmallows go to school to "learn to be squishy?"

Lots to chuckle over in the small details of the illustrations of this wacky book.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Edelweiss for an ARC of this book.

This is a unique picture book with a good message.

[♥Sabulous ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I felt about the art style but it is so stinking cute that it doesn't matter.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I can't truly put my finger on why but it works. The cut outs and photographed materials make it super to look at. And the author's name is ROWBOAT!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and now I want marshmallows.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this but I didn't. The pictures are adorable, the text is unremarkable.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky story declaring that marshmallows can be anything they want to be; with amazing illustrations using real marshmallows, construction paper, cake sprinkles, cardboard, acorn tops, twisty ties, pencil and "whatever else was needed."

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most marshmallows, we are told, learn to be squishy, to stand in rows. Most learn why they cannot breathe fire.

Some marshmallows, though, can break through the bounds of what we are. Some dare to imagine.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an e-arc of this from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.


This book was absolutely adorable. There was so much positivity about being different and that it’s okay to be different. The illustrations were fabulous. I especially loved the teacher marshmallow and her bun. This book is a great way to share with kids that anything they dream is possible and they can achieve anything they want. I will definitely be getting a physical copy when this comes out in April!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it's about marshmallows, and marshmallows secretly think that they are humans, but that's not what it says, it says, they secretly know that they can be fire-breathing dragons or anything else that you can imagine, like, being like a superhero. But that's your choice of what you wanna be when you grow up.

[Sharla Desy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations in this one. In fact, I like the illustrations better that I like the text. Can't get over the internal contradiction that fire is bad for marshmallows (leaves them charred, as shown early in the book) and the fact that the marshmallow at the end roars a dragon-like tongue of flame.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every marshmallow grows and learns and has a family and lives in a house (of some sort or another). But not all marshmallows know something that's totally true. Marshmallows can do anything or be anything they dare to imagine!

Cute for preschool or toddler storytimes.

I love the illustrations! The paper art is fantastic.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't really about marshmallows, though the collaged photographs are of drawn on marshmallows in everyday settings made of paper, cardboard, cake sprinkles and more. I needed a 1st reading to take in all the details of the pictures, and a 2nd reading to really understand the message that people (marshmallows) can be or do anything they can imagine. So ROAR!

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations--wonderfully cute and creative images of marshmallows having birthday parties, riding the bus, and attending school. The message is a little cliche, but the intended audience won't mind.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny story, especially as you are getting to the end. The illustrations add fun to the story. Envision yourself as the marshmallow that's not exactly like all the others. Great analogy for children, or anyone! Enjoyable story and illustrations.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexi and Skye especially loved this book and the faces on the marshmallows. It's a great use of imagination and creativity. It could even be used in 2th-5th grade classes as a show of how to use everyday objects as inspiration.