Butternut

by Jill Dana, Rachel Tan-Hwee (Illustrator)

Fresh from the farm, Butternut awakes to find himself lost in a supermarket. Is he butter? Is he a nut? Is he squash or squashed? Just who is he and where does he belong?

Join Butternut on his journey through the supermarket aisles as he makes new friends and discovers more about himself.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2021

About the author

Jill Dana is an author, illustrator, artist, teacher, and filmmaker.

For more about Jill and her books, visit www.JillDanaBooks.com or her social media @JillDanaBooks

Reviews

[Lisa Bournelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet journey through the grocery store, but really a wonderful metaphor for finding value in oneself. A lovely children's book for pre-schoolers - Gr 2s to help them learn more about the foods in the supermarket, while learning to find value in themselves and who they are.

[Angela Padron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butternut is an adorable story about a butternut squash trying to find where he belongs at the supermarket. Readers will become attached to this cute character throughout and feel for him as he tries to fit in. Then root for him at the end when he finds his true place. I never thought I'd want to hug a vegetable before but I just can't get enough of Butternut! I love the colorful and playful illustrations as well as the thought-provoking questions and informational graphic about how food winds up at the market. I learned so much from this book while enjoying reading it.

[Sara Fajardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story that tackles that universal question of "where do I belong?" Told from the perspective of a young butternut squash yearning to find their place in the world. It's a journey across the supermarket trying to figure out where Butternut fits in. The dairy aisle? With the peanut butters? With the rejected grocery items? A humorous take on how the world seeks to define us, but true power comes with really knowing who you are and asserting your own identity. Kids are sure to enjoy the clever word play and puns woven throughout this charming story.

[Srividhya Venkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butternut feels lost when he finds himself at a supermarket far away from the farm he was born in. But with the encouragement of those he meets in the store, he embarks on a mission to find where he belongs in his new home. Told with a humorous play of words, Butternut is a character young readers will connect, and experience adventure and joy with. The back matter of the book is helpful in learning about how food gets to supermarkets, and also lists out possible questions for discussion with readers.

[Laurie Carmody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is adorable in every way! Not only are the illustrations absolutely the cutest (especially the baby food!), the text is full of puns that adults will love and that children will laugh at as well. It can be difficult to connect punny language with very young readers, but the author does it seamlessly here. Both young and older children will delight in the journey that the butternut squash takes through the store, and it's a fabulous way to teach about categorization and parts of the grocery store. A book you will want to read over and over!

[Betsy Ellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butternut has to be the cutest produce in book form. Butternut's journey is a great story about resilience and being who you are. This book will give any trip to the grocery store new fun as they see the store through the eyes of this little squash. Also, the last pages give some great facts about the journey our food takes to get to the store. Great little book. Highly recommend.

[Maritere Rodriguez Bellas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, colorful and fun way to address the sense of belonging! Children of any age will be delighted by the story and the cute character. A wonderful story that reminds us that there are good people around us and that we can always find our way home! Bravo Jill Dana! Mari B.

[Heather Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun (behind the scenes) look for your child into the grocery store! The story follows a squash who is looking for where they fit in. Great for introducing children to the different food groups, exploring the world around them, and understanding the concept of same/different.

[Nurul · Rating 5 out of 5]

My take:

Finished in one sitting. Good book for discussion on how to find your own self identity and where you belong.

[Leah Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Dana's BUTTERNUT is such a cute story about a butternut squash who can't find its place in the grocery store. Is it butter? A nut? Kids will enjoy this book as they follow Butternut Squash around, meeting funny food items along the way. Jill Dana's words mix well with Rachel Tan-Hwee's bright and colorful illustrations. I recommend this book for kids of all ages!

[Tia Perkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Jill Dana uses a grocery store to tell a story about finding a sense of belonging. There's a lot to love here, from the personification of grocery items (even adorable jars of baby food) to the beautiful illustrations! I really enjoyed the plays on words (does Butternut belong in the nut aisle, or the dairy aisle?) and the behind-the-scenes tour around the grocery store. This story is just plain fun, sweet and creative!

[Sarah Taber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo Cute! I love how this story portrays the need to find where one belongs. Whether it's a piece of food or a real person, everyone wants to know where they fit in the world! And Butternut is no different. He wakes up in a Supermarket but doesn't know where he belongs. And he really wants to know where his new home is. So many children can relate to this story, because they don't know where they fit in the world yet. Great story.

[Kristina Nearchou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Great illustrations and a fun story! I teach my students about different foods and this book will be a great resource! I love how Butternut is trying to figure out where he belongs in the grocery store.. is he a nut? does he go beside the butter? I especially love the questions at the back of the book for parents and educators. 5 stars for sure

[Carolyn Watson-Dubisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A disoriented young squash arrives in a corner of the supermarket. From here he begins his search for where he belongs in this new confusing world. With charming illustrations and endearing characters, this picture book is definitely worth picking up for the little ones in your life.

[Mary Haque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butternut wakes up at the supermarket and tries to figure out where his new home is. Does he belong with the Butter or maybe with the nuts? Butternut's journey takes him to the jelly aisle because maybe he belongs with the peanut butter or maybe the walnuts? Nonetheless, Butternut manages to make many friends with other grocery items and devises a plan with Orange and the others at the 50% off table to help him get in a cart to his new home!
I don't want to give away the rest of the story but have to say I'm liking the positive, helpful messages from Butternut's newfound friends, like green tea telling him to "take a deep breath and quiet his mind." (adorable!). The detailed illustrations are simply delightful and so full of bright happy colors! I love the detailed grocery cart track map that shows the steps of Butternut getting to his home.There is even a discussion - question/answer section for kids and a cool illustrated diagram of how items actually get to the supermarket.

Kudos to Jill Dana on a well thought out adorable book that has so much to it for kids to enjoy!!

[S.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest butternut fresh from the farm, wakes up and finds himself in this brand new place completely foreign to him. Not only that. He wonders what he is. Is he butter? Or is he a nut? Or is he a squash? Is he makes his way down the aisles of the supermarket, he meets new friends of all kind until eventually he finds his kind and where he belongs. I loved the illustrations! Rachel Tan-Hwee did a beautiful job. At face value, this book is perfect for introducing a young child to the grocery store and all the wonder that comes with that. But I loved the hidden perennial theme the story touches on even more. That all-too-familiar question of Where do I belong? And that feeling of happiness and content that comes from finding where one belongs. This picture book is perfect for children ages 3 to 7.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable & educational book about finding one’s place in the world
As a mom of four, it’s great fun to see my kids (& myself) enjoy this book at multiple different ages. It’s a story of a butternut squash, looking for his place in the world, filled with funny puns, beautiful illustrations, and opportunities to learn about different kinds of foods and food groups. Kids learn along with their new friend, Butternut. There is even a section to help prompt parents and educators with helpful discussion points, as well as a section to teach kids about where various foods come from. Most of all, though, it’s a sweet and adorable story that’s fun for kids and their grown-ups. :)

[Shachi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about butternut squash, set in a grocery store. The butternut is on the journey of finding where it belongs in a grocery store. As the butternut squash meets different items on the isles, he makes new friends. This picture book is worth picking up and making a grocery store fun for your little ones.
The illustrations are fun and lively, making the butternut squash a loveable character.
The back matter is a great resource for introducing children to different foods and where they come from.

[Stephanie Gibeault · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful story of belonging takes place in a grocery store as a newly arrived butternut squash tries to find his place on the shelves. The punny and playful language is fun to read aloud, and the illustrations are bright and adorable. The inspiring theme of knowing yourself and not letting the world define you is funny and relatable for young children. Plus, the concepts of food categorization and grocery store organization add extra layers. A wonderful book to share over and over with little ones!

[AAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where in the market does poor Butternut belong? With bright, engaging illustrations, and filled to the brim with fun puns, Butternut is such a delightful read. Set in a grocery store (a wonderland to many children- especially my own!), Butternut covers a number of relevant themes including belonging and food education in a very funny, approachable kid-friendly way. The backmatter also has plenty of thoughtful discussion points for families and educators alike.

[Pam Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butternut ~ Super fun story filled with humor and heart!
Children will enjoy this cute and clever story filled with silly puns and tender moments of kindness. Butternut is on a quest through the grocery store on route to figuring out where he belongs! Vibrant yet warm illustrations invite readers right into this heartfelt journey. Even when the story ends, Jill adds in wonderful conversation questions and fun supermarket facts!!

[Judith Valdés B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Butternut Squash arrives at a supermarket, it is disoriented and unsure of where it belongs. So, it begins a journey around the different aisles, searching for its place. As it moves from place to place, it discovers the essence of who it is. Written in a cute and humorous way, the story addresses the universal need that we all have to find the place where we belong by rediscovering who we are.

The beautiful illustrations add yet another layer to the sweet story.

[Alyssa Reynoso-Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about a butternut squash trying to find where he belongs in a supermarket. Is he butter? Is he a nut? He is squashed? And as someone who began to enjoy squashes as an adult, it is a great way to expose kids to these types of food. With underlying themes of identity and finding the place we belong, the message is sweetly told. Cheers to Jill!!!

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is Butternut butter (a dairy product) or a nut (that grows on trees or is an underground legume)? Butternut is a squash who receives so much conflicting information from other grocery store items. This book details his journey of finding a home. Readers will also learn about word play and categorization from this fun and cute picture book.

[Laura Roettiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of picture books and I’m so happy I found this one! The puns are adorable and child-friendly! Butternut spends time trying to find where he fits in, making friends at the grocery story and helping readers learn about kindness and food groups all at the same time! I can’t wait for the sequel!

[Monica Acker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little squash searching for where he belongs! Butternut has SEL components of belonging and also teaches little ones about the grocery store. Lots of great uses for preschoolers!

[Alice Bianchi-Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her debut picture book, Jill Dana shares a story about belonging. When Butternut is picked off the vine and transported to the local supermarket, he is not sure in which section he belongs. With a winning blend of heart, humour and clever word play, Butternut's journey to find a new home is an imaginative exercise in empathy. The back matter includes discussion questions to encourage children to reflect on the meaning of home and the way foods are categorised in supermarkets as well as to introduce them to word play through puns, homophones and compound words.

[Stacy Davids · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, fun, and informative! Young readers will root for Butternut, a lost squash in the grocery store while he tries to find out what he is and where he belongs. The last pages of the book include a discussion guide and well-presented, illustrated chart about where food comes from, e.g. the multi-step process that milk or peanuts go through from the start all the way until they're in the grocery store. Excellent book!

[Kimberly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butternut wakes to find he’s no longer on the farm, but in a supermarket––in the wrong section! He sets out on a mission to find where he belongs before the store opens, making friends along the way. This fun story is full of humor and heart. Bright, playful illustrations pair perfectly with the pun-filled text, and the discussion points and information about how different foods make their way to the supermarket make a fun educational addition to the book!

[Melissa Trempe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butternut is an adorable story about a butternut squash trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs. Is he butter? A nut? A squashed item for clearance? Me and my kiddo loved all the puns. It’s a fun and funny read aloud, and I’m curious if it will even help some picky eaters try new foods??! My son asked about spaghetti squash, and now he’s open to trying some after reading this book! I highly recommend!