Pick Me!

by Max Amato

Five ice cream cones are eager to get picked -- until they realize what it means! Fudge, Mint, Berry, Bean, and Candy each think they are the MOST delicious ice cream cone around. But when Rocky Road arrives to deliver the scoop that "getting picked" means getting eaten, these silly cones earn their just desserts!

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

48 pages, Hardcover

Published August 2, 2022

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Scholastic, Inc.
Humorous look at being chosen from ice cream flavors' side. Each wants to be picked and does their best to outdo the other flavors until one comes along with a bite out of it. It's only then that they realize what being picked really means.
Clever and simple illustrations with easy to follow text. Readers will appreciate the fun as each flavor describes themself.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy pick for summer storytime! All the ice cream flavors declare that they are the best until they learn that getting picked means getting eaten, then they change their tune. Simple illustrations and funny dialogue. Would be fun to ask the kids or poll them on their favorite flavor.

[Elayne Crain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you remember going to Baskin Robbins when you were a kid? I mean, do you REALLY remember?

Max Amato remembers--and the brain-freezingly torturous choice of what flavor to choose gets a fun reversal in his new picture book, Pick Me!

Perfect for fans of The Day the Crayons Quit, this multiple POV picture book follows an assortment of ice cream flavors who each vie to be chosen--at least, until they realize what they are being chosen for...

It's no small feat to have a large-ish picture book cast that young readers can immediately connect with, and in this case (SPOILER!) it's truly for the best if the kiddos don't get *too* attached to any one ice cream cone character. This might be the first example I've seen of an "on page" death scene--and for multiple characters, to boot. When I get to that spread, it's all I can do not to murmur darkly, "You scream, I scream...we all scream..." 😂

It's fun and just a bit dark--in a truly delicious way. If I were you, I'd pick it up on your next book run.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book. This book is a lot of fun. I borrowed it to read with my kindergartener, and he has pretty much memorized the story. Five flavors of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, berry, mint, and cotton candy) are trying to sell themselves to the reader until rocky road comes to tell them the truth about what it means to be picked. Suddenly the ice cream flavors have lots of good things to say about the other flavors! Great to read aloud, illustrations would be clear in a larger group as well. Could also be fun with older elementary students in relation to persuasive writing.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book as it is written and illustrated by the son of a favorite author of mine, Mary Amato. It did not disappoint. The story is told from the point of view of different ice cream flavors attempting to convince the reader that they are the best flavor. Competitiveness at its best. Digitally created art is full of color and action that will make children laugh. There’s so much that could be done with this story with a group of students.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this cute book, but then I got the the part where the strawberry says they're the healthy choice. Healthy is written in italics, but even so, NO. I don't want children getting the message that ice cream is an unhealthy choice. Let's not put moral judgments on food in picture books for kids (or any books). That sort of thinking leads down the path to disordered eating.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five ice cream cones argue why they should be picked above the others. When rocky road explains what getting "picked" means, they argue about why a different cone should be picked over them. Will definitely lead to a conversation about ice cream flavors. I like the double page spread introducing each flavors almost like a commercial. Made me want ice cream when I'm already cold in February.

[Pug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, action-packed book about ice cream cones. Full of silly ice-cream-puns ("I think I hurt my dairy-ere"), and the antics of hopped-up Cotton Candy, it will hold the attention of any ice cream lover. Even when it takes a dark turn and all the ice cream cones get eaten at the end. Yikes!

[Mary Amato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious exploration of the all-too-common impulse to be competitive. Kids will love this book and adults will appreciate the smart and funny word play. Full disclosure: I'm also a children's book author and the author/illustrator is my son.

[Nicole Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like ice cream, this book is just fun. No big lessons. No earth shattering emotions. No real morals (except perhaps be careful what you wish for...). Just a fun book about ice cream, perfect on a hot sunny day... preferably with ice cream.

[Bree Sotirovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

They all want to be picked to be your favorite ice cream flavor! They sell themselves in fantastic ways but then Rocky Road comes along with a bite out of his top. The others realize they will be eaten if picked. Suddenly this is not what they want. Super adorable!

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book read to 3 classes each of grades K-4. Enjoyed by every class with 1st graders showing particular delight. Super fun read-aloud with colorful pictures. This would be a great book to kick off summer break or a summer reading program.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are reasons why bragging about how you good you are over others isn’t a good idea and this book is perfect for taking about that! This book has funny characters, a great storyline, fun illustrations, a surprise ending, and is a fantastic read-aloud, so you really should “pick” it to share!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the different personalities of the ice cream. This could be a great introduction for persuasive writing. Gorgeous, simple illustrations.

[Kaavya Singh]

Need to read this

[Kimberly Wright Oelkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny! Loved the teeth!

[Brittany Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids will love this story and the different characteristics all the ice cream flavors embody, it will keep everyone laughing until the end!

[skcocnaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

That’s dark tho.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, for fans of Everyone Loves Bacon

[Kelly]

I just called the last book I read a very sweet book - could say the same thing here. Cute little humor for adults and funny story for kids.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super funny, brief text, and extra points for the font on the cover.

Themes: ice cream
Ages: toddler (maybe; def shorten) & preK (shorten), K-2nd grade

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

For: ice cream lovers.

Possible red flags: characters in peril.

[Jillian Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read aloud!

[Steph]

Turn/Level: B(1)/2.5

Ice Cream, Ice Cream Flavors

The different flavors introduce themselves and compete to be chosen, until they find out what happens when they do.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun, silly book about icecream

would be good for storytime

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is just “eh,” for me. Loved this author’s book, “Perfect,” so go read that one instead. I think this one just missed the mark of connecting with its reader.

[Sarah Contreras · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story that any young child will love. Who doesn’t like ice cream?

[Margaret Boling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/14/25 ~ Okay...I must revise the star rating that I originally gave this book. I've read it this week to all my students in grades 2 - 5, and they LOVE it. First, I perfected my 5 different voices for the major characters. Second, I added shark noises on the "Uh-oh" page (near the end.)

In addition, this one of the most perfect texts I've ever seen for discussing the narrative arc and a climax of a story. For the 4th and 5th graders, I displayed a roller coaster version of the narrative arc and reviewed it. Then I read the whole book & highlighted that we don't always know we're at the climax until after we've passed it. After I finished reading, I turned the middle pages slowly, and had students use an "every student respond" to indicate where they thought the climax was. This was a really good review for the intermediate students.

4/28/24 ~ Read because it is on the Young Hoosier list for the 2024-25 school year. Rated 3 stars.