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Leslie Patricelli Board Books
Yummy Yucky
'Spaghetti is yummy, worms are yucky. Sandwiches are yummy, sand is yucky.' With bold illustrations, Leslie Patricelli humorously introduces concepts to very young children. The book also has a double spread section featuring 'more yummy things' and 'more yucky things'.
26 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 2003
49 people are currently reading
1200 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Patricelli
62 books233 followersLeslie Patricelli is the American writer and illustrator of the best selling line of toddler books, starring her inimitable Baby character, including Potty, Toot, Yummy Yucky, Big Little, and Hair. She has more than 30 books for children, including her preschool books, Higher! Higher! (a Boston Globe Book Honor Award winner), Be Quiet, Mike!, Faster! Faster! and The Patterson Puppies and the Midnight Monster Party; as well as a middle-grade novel, The Rizzlerunk Club: Best Buds Under Frogs, published in 2018. Leslie Patricelli grew up in Issaquah, Washington close to Pine Lake. Leslie Patricelli majored in Communications at the University of Washington and took classes at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle. Leslie Patricelli created and animated Rover the Dog for Windows XP help installed on more than 60 million computers worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
April 1, 2013
An epic tale of the perseverance of one one-haired child against his own nature. The unnamed protagonist exists in a sparsely-populated world where everything and everyone is deeply polarized. He is repeatedly forced to choose between two competing families in a saga reminiscent of the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. Again and again he tests objects, both permanent and impermanent, against his mental demons and decides their fates. At times, it seems he is aware of the reader and merely toying with us. A pattern emerges quickly and we realize that Yummy and Yucky are alternating in frequency. They are Yin and Yang, similar in name (yu--y) but opposite in character. There are two sides, but there is but one hair.
However, the author's bias in favor of "Yummy" is translucent. Yucky is boldly capitalized. Why? I cannot know for certain. It could be an effort to illicit the reader to vocalize the word loudly. Or, more likely, YUCKY is an acronym. This begs the question: What is Y.U.C.K.Y.? What do they stand for, both in title and morally? Why is Y.U.C.K.Y. interested in acquiring this mysterious and eclectic mixture of items for its catalog? Are they seeking to control the unseen "Mommy" character through manipulation of her morning beverage? This book begs for a prequel or movie adaptation that might explain the genesis of Y.U.C.K.Y. and hopefully examine what psychological machinery is at play within Mommy that should lead her to present unsupervised dangers to the single-haired protagonist.
I was initially tempted to remove a few stars because the plot wraps up with as many elements in the last two pages as were in the previous chapters combined. Was this by design or the result of a rush to print? I favor the former explanation. In the end, we expand rapidly from the protagonist's isolated existence. We zoom out from his careful consideration of single objects and their metaphysical substance to see an entire world controlled by Yummy and YUCKY forces, with seemingly no grey area between. The book itself shows a literal line between sides. Two thick, deep, and sturdy board-pages are bound together an eternal struggle. Glued. Pressed. But still there is a line between them. Left is yummy. Right is YUCKY. The protagonist is gone. Is this a choice? If so, you must choose.
I choose yucky.
However, the author's bias in favor of "Yummy" is translucent. Yucky is boldly capitalized. Why? I cannot know for certain. It could be an effort to illicit the reader to vocalize the word loudly. Or, more likely, YUCKY is an acronym. This begs the question: What is Y.U.C.K.Y.? What do they stand for, both in title and morally? Why is Y.U.C.K.Y. interested in acquiring this mysterious and eclectic mixture of items for its catalog? Are they seeking to control the unseen "Mommy" character through manipulation of her morning beverage? This book begs for a prequel or movie adaptation that might explain the genesis of Y.U.C.K.Y. and hopefully examine what psychological machinery is at play within Mommy that should lead her to present unsupervised dangers to the single-haired protagonist.
I was initially tempted to remove a few stars because the plot wraps up with as many elements in the last two pages as were in the previous chapters combined. Was this by design or the result of a rush to print? I favor the former explanation. In the end, we expand rapidly from the protagonist's isolated existence. We zoom out from his careful consideration of single objects and their metaphysical substance to see an entire world controlled by Yummy and YUCKY forces, with seemingly no grey area between. The book itself shows a literal line between sides. Two thick, deep, and sturdy board-pages are bound together an eternal struggle. Glued. Pressed. But still there is a line between them. Left is yummy. Right is YUCKY. The protagonist is gone. Is this a choice? If so, you must choose.
I choose yucky.
February 19, 2018
Wow!
Yummy Yucky illustrates a kid who has recently discovered the world of food. He hasn't any idea what to eat or what not. In his utter confusion, he is forced to test everything on his own. See, how much he's trying to get all of you a satisfactory result!
So he goes on and on. There are blueberries, blue crayons, soup, soap, sandwiches, sand, hot sauce, red sauce, chocolate ice cream, too much ice cream, mommy's chocolates, mommy's coffee and much more.
How the decision is to be made now? So much to eat and little knowledge of their tastes!
Jump right into the book to distinguish what is yummy and what is yucky.
Yummy Yucky illustrates a kid who has recently discovered the world of food. He hasn't any idea what to eat or what not. In his utter confusion, he is forced to test everything on his own. See, how much he's trying to get all of you a satisfactory result!
So he goes on and on. There are blueberries, blue crayons, soup, soap, sandwiches, sand, hot sauce, red sauce, chocolate ice cream, too much ice cream, mommy's chocolates, mommy's coffee and much more.
How the decision is to be made now? So much to eat and little knowledge of their tastes!
Jump right into the book to distinguish what is yummy and what is yucky.
January 29, 2025
This was helpful to understand boogers are yucky
April 27, 2010
Are you wondering I am reviewing this children’s book? Why, of course, because I read it. My kid is 17 months old and shows an affinity to books. He loves books with big pictures, so when I got this book for him, he was ecstatic.
Yummy Yucky is a boardbook which means no matter what my tyke does, he can’t tear it. How I wish more things in this world were toddler-proofed in this way! The main character of this book is a cute little guy in diapers and a strand of hair sticking out on his head. Author and Illustrator Patricelli cleverly uses big, clear images. No unnecessary clutter so that toddlers, who have very short attention span, can focus on that one big image and not get distracted by other background images.
Each page has the little guy doing something and one line below the image to say whether that stuff is yummy or yucky. Apple pie is yummy, mud pie is yucky. Burgers are yummy, bogeys are yucky – you get the point? Very well illustrated and an intelligent selection of substances – something that the toddler identifies.
Thanks to this book, my little guy learnt to say the words “yummy” and “yucky”. After the roaring success of this book, I am looking forward to other Patricelli books. I am especially looking for “Big Little” which my kid’s library does not stock. Anybody have this book which I can borrow?
Yummy Yucky is a boardbook which means no matter what my tyke does, he can’t tear it. How I wish more things in this world were toddler-proofed in this way! The main character of this book is a cute little guy in diapers and a strand of hair sticking out on his head. Author and Illustrator Patricelli cleverly uses big, clear images. No unnecessary clutter so that toddlers, who have very short attention span, can focus on that one big image and not get distracted by other background images.
Each page has the little guy doing something and one line below the image to say whether that stuff is yummy or yucky. Apple pie is yummy, mud pie is yucky. Burgers are yummy, bogeys are yucky – you get the point? Very well illustrated and an intelligent selection of substances – something that the toddler identifies.
Thanks to this book, my little guy learnt to say the words “yummy” and “yucky”. After the roaring success of this book, I am looking forward to other Patricelli books. I am especially looking for “Big Little” which my kid’s library does not stock. Anybody have this book which I can borrow?
July 31, 2012
This book is really fun. I love the yucky things: caterpillars, soap, kitty litter, too much ice cream. My kids love to "read" this to me, and it has even turned into a fun game. They like to think of a yummy thing and then think of a yucky thing that sounds similar (grape juice is yummy, grapefruit juice is yucky).
I think this is a great book to read to kids. The only flaw with it is that it labels hot sauce as yucky. My oldest daughter always corrects that page, "Daddy likes hot sauce," she says, "and I sometimes like hot sauce."
I think this is a great book to read to kids. The only flaw with it is that it labels hot sauce as yucky. My oldest daughter always corrects that page, "Daddy likes hot sauce," she says, "and I sometimes like hot sauce."
June 27, 2016
Pretty cute book, and some solid advice on what to eat and what not to eat
January 12, 2016
I bust out laughing at the blue crayon page. This is now my second-favorite Leslie Patricelli book (you just can't top Toot).
June 23, 2016
Sure, it's propaganda, but whatevs!
January 11, 2015
Entertainingly simple, easy enough to read even to those who might need help identifying food. Cutely illustrated, but fundamentally flawed.
Should we really be teaching that coffee is yucky, or perhaps just that it's an acquired taste and not something for babies to drink? Hot sauce is anything but yucky, but not something I'd be sampling as a diapered infant. And what of those cultures that eat worms? Shoehorning these items into the simplistic categories is hardly appropriate. After reading this book, my daughter started reacting to coffee as if it were as disgusting as mud or kitty litter, two items it's placed on the same tier with. It took weeks before she was willing to sniff the freshly ground beans again, which was part of our morning ritual.
Instruction is well and good, but overgeneralizing and pigeonholing things as wonderful as coffee or hot sauce into "yucky" is wrong.
Should we really be teaching that coffee is yucky, or perhaps just that it's an acquired taste and not something for babies to drink? Hot sauce is anything but yucky, but not something I'd be sampling as a diapered infant. And what of those cultures that eat worms? Shoehorning these items into the simplistic categories is hardly appropriate. After reading this book, my daughter started reacting to coffee as if it were as disgusting as mud or kitty litter, two items it's placed on the same tier with. It took weeks before she was willing to sniff the freshly ground beans again, which was part of our morning ritual.
Instruction is well and good, but overgeneralizing and pigeonholing things as wonderful as coffee or hot sauce into "yucky" is wrong.
January 7, 2021
An adorable book teaching little ones the importance between things good to eat and things that aren’t. Leaves room for a great conversation with your children to always ask if they are ever in question about what they can eat.
December 10, 2007
I learned what not to eat.
August 21, 2008
Soup is yummy. Soap is yucky. Unfortunately, Max also thinks that BOOKS are yummy right now, so we had to return this to the library before it was devoured.
June 24, 2012
Leslie Patricelli always finds a way to make the simplest concepts so fun to read about! These illustrations are adorable!!! I am in love with all the books in this series.
August 23, 2012
Adorable!
March 12, 2019
This book is excellent for little children to grasp that some things are acceptable and some are not. My kids absolutely love Leslie Patricelli!
December 5, 2016
Yummy Yucky is a children's picture book. I gave this book a 5 star rating simply because all the elements of this book were successful. Yummy Yucky is a book that shows the comparison between what's good, and what isn't. It also shows what's the same, and what's different. This book is intended for the preschool audience.
The sound and character of this book all coincides with the language. The language is for children who is beginning to read. The characters of this book consist of a toddler, and the sound of this book is as if the author wanted to give the audience a ''lesson'' on comparisons, differences, and similarities. I think this book will be appealing to its intended audience because of the illustration. Young readers loves bright colors, big bold letters, and lots of pictures to keep their attention.
The sound and character of this book all coincides with the language. The language is for children who is beginning to read. The characters of this book consist of a toddler, and the sound of this book is as if the author wanted to give the audience a ''lesson'' on comparisons, differences, and similarities. I think this book will be appealing to its intended audience because of the illustration. Young readers loves bright colors, big bold letters, and lots of pictures to keep their attention.
December 4, 2016
I am reviewing this book because I read it when I was younger and reading it again to the little kids that I babysit. It has big pictures, colorful and etc. The main character of this book id a cute guy in diaper and a strand of hair sticking out on his head. I think this is great book to read to kids. It will help children distinguish between what is good to eat and what is good to eat. I think this is a good book because toddlers love to put everything in their mouths. Illustrations with bold colors. I rated this book five stars. The other titles are Quiet Loud (""Crayons are quiet. Pots and pans are LOUD"") and Yummy Yucky (""Spaghetti is yummy. Worms are yucky""). Easy words for young readers.
July 29, 2013
"Blueberries are yummy. Blue crayons are yucky. Soup is yummy. Soap is yucky. Sandwiches are yummy. Sand is yucky." True enough. Most children will have to learn these lessons on their own, but it can't hurt to read this funny book, too!
"Burgers are yummy. Boogers are yucky."
"More yucky things" include: garbage, dog food, kitty litter, and CENTIPEDE.
ETA: I only give the book 4 stars because, like the other L. Patricelli board books in this series, it depicts a baby that reads to me as white and male. It couldn't hurt to draw a more diverse group of babies eating worms and earwax and stuff.
"Burgers are yummy. Boogers are yucky."
"More yucky things" include: garbage, dog food, kitty litter, and CENTIPEDE.
ETA: I only give the book 4 stars because, like the other L. Patricelli board books in this series, it depicts a baby that reads to me as white and male. It couldn't hurt to draw a more diverse group of babies eating worms and earwax and stuff.
September 21, 2009
This is a board book about opposites. A little toddler tries two different items on each page and says if they are “yucky” or “yummy.” Ex: “Apple pie is yummy. Mud pies are yucky.” I loved the illustrations in this book. They were very simple, yet easy to focus on and understand. The story line is very basic and easy to follow along with. It’s also a great book because it helps toddlers begin to recognize opposites. This would be a good one to read over and over with your toddler and soon they could read it along with you.
January 5, 2012
We got "yummy yucky" and "quiet Loud" as gifts, since then I've bought 5 other books from Leslie Patricelli and will most likely get the others that I'm missing.
I love the illustrations! Is it wrong I want to rip the book apart and frame some of them? no, seriously.
I have fun reading the simple books to my daughter and she has fun reading them back to me. It always produces giggles and a good time. I also feel that this helps to teach children about opposites, which several of her books address.
I love the illustrations! Is it wrong I want to rip the book apart and frame some of them? no, seriously.
I have fun reading the simple books to my daughter and she has fun reading them back to me. It always produces giggles and a good time. I also feel that this helps to teach children about opposites, which several of her books address.
February 10, 2014
My 2 yr old son, T loves this book. His favorite part is the back pages…
More yummy things:
pizza
banana
milk
toast
peach
cheese
cupcake
chicken
More yucky things:
garbage
dog food
dish soap
apple core
kitty litter
toilet paper
stinky sock
centipede
Yummy:
spaghetti
blueberries
soup
sandwiches
mommy's cookies
chocolate sauce
apple pie
burgers
eggs
fish sticks
ice cream
Yucky:
worms
blue crayons
soap
sand
mommy's coffee
hot sauce
mud pie
boogers
ear wax
fish food
too much ice cream
More yummy things:
pizza
banana
milk
toast
peach
cheese
cupcake
chicken
More yucky things:
garbage
dog food
dish soap
apple core
kitty litter
toilet paper
stinky sock
centipede
Yummy:
spaghetti
blueberries
soup
sandwiches
mommy's cookies
chocolate sauce
apple pie
burgers
eggs
fish sticks
ice cream
Yucky:
worms
blue crayons
soap
sand
mommy's coffee
hot sauce
mud pie
boogers
ear wax
fish food
too much ice cream
August 15, 2009
This series of books by Leslie Patricelli is one of my all time favorites. I own as many as I've been able to get my hands on. They are board books and are just as hilarious for a one year old as an 8 year old. Especially if the 8 year old is reading it to the 1-year old. I can't recommend this books enough! Love the illustrations, the presentation of concepts, the potential for "listener" participation, and all the giggles they produce!
September 20, 2009
7.) Yummy Yucky By Leslie Patricelli
Patricelli, L (2003). Yummy Yucky. Candlewick.
Illustrated By: Leslie Patricelli
Summary: This book is great for toddlers. The book will help children distinguish between what is good to eat and what is not good to eat. I think this is a good book because toddlers love to put everything in their mouths. Pictures are fun and I think toddlers will think the book is funny.
Patricelli, L (2003). Yummy Yucky. Candlewick.
Illustrated By: Leslie Patricelli
Summary: This book is great for toddlers. The book will help children distinguish between what is good to eat and what is not good to eat. I think this is a good book because toddlers love to put everything in their mouths. Pictures are fun and I think toddlers will think the book is funny.
May 1, 2010
I'm getting to like this author. This one was especailly funny. Each page spread had two similar looking or sounding items, one which is yummy and one which is not okay to eat. At the end, there were lists of other yummy and yucky things. Centipede was the last one, gross! Cute illustrations with bold colors.
This could be a great book for an older child to read to a baby. A non-reader could use the pictures easily to tell the story.
This could be a great book for an older child to read to a baby. A non-reader could use the pictures easily to tell the story.
January 6, 2016
I love Leslie Patricelli books, but I take issue with a few pages from this book. Coffee is the lifeblood that fuels the dreams of champions...not yucky! I don't want a child who only eats bland foods - hot sauce...not yucky! And couldn't there have been a couple more healthy foods under the yummy section? Why not tell kids that carrots are yummy, not chocolate sauce and ice cream?
Anyways, the pictures are always fun.
Anyways, the pictures are always fun.
July 3, 2011
I rated this book with 5stars cause *I* don't have to read it to my baby over and over and over and over and over... It's perfect for teaching little ones to read, and they learn opposites at the same time. This board book is part of a series, and my daughter has been "reading" it since she could talk. Very easy for little ones.
December 16, 2017
baby/toddlers (even preschoolers), great for storytime.
This is a fun one to read aloud; the text reads "[normal food] is yummy. [silly thing] is Yucky." on each set of pages. It can be abbreviated (skipped pages) as needed, if your group is extra wiggly, but this should delight both little ones and their caretakers easily.
This is a fun one to read aloud; the text reads "[normal food] is yummy. [silly thing] is Yucky." on each set of pages. It can be abbreviated (skipped pages) as needed, if your group is extra wiggly, but this should delight both little ones and their caretakers easily.
January 23, 2018
This story is full of mystery, love and finding yourself. Baby doesn't know what foods he likes, he takes risks and learns to enjoy life in it's ups and downs. We can all learn something from baby, try new things and enjoy life. He is a dynamic, relateable charecter that you fall in love with at the start of the novel. Wonderful storyline would recommend to anyone.
August 14, 2020
I could wax poetic about the descriptive virtues of this fine piece of children's literature, but I prefer to borrow from Patricelli's tone and simply say that to read this book is yummy. And to not read this book as many times as you can is yucky.
April 2, 2024
A great book to get small children to consider what is good and bad to eat. When asked, they loved saying whether or not they thought something was yummy or yucky to eat. An awesome book to garner interest and participation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews