– A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, 2023
“This sweet and tender tale opens with a brown-skinned child shelling peas into a bowl. Bergame’s story is full of repetition, patterned action-filled sentences, and memorable vocabulary. Attiogbé’s slightly retro palette and flat, graphic illustration style give the book a timeless feel that calls to mind the works of Dahlia Ipcar and Ed Emberley. . . a visually appealing and dynamic offering.” –The Horn Book
"A sneaky plant life-cycle story for the youngest set. The repeated refrain “ROLL, ROLL, LITTLE PEA” makes the tale roll along as merrily as the little pea itself. Bold graphic designs with thick accent lines are visually arresting."–Kirkus Reviews
"Young children will enjoy seeing a renegade pea as it escapes from the clutches of a little girl and rolls off into the world. . . . Readers ages 3-6 will enjoy chanting "roll, roll, little pea!" until the exciting moment when the pea reaches the garden and vanished into the earth. Come spring, of course, there will be new peas for the little girl to find."–The Wall Street Journal
"Filled with incredible, vibrant colors and hues, the words on these pages are delightful. Once the pea has made its escape the text reads something like, “Roll Roll, Little Pea, along the floor and under the stairs”, (always changing where it heads) and on the opposite page is some kind of critter who would like to crunch or nibble or peck or even “Devour” the pea. With pictures you can make out across a room and that steady diet of repetition, the end result is a great readaloud and stellar translation. Two thumbs up!"–Betsy Bird, Fuse#8, School Library Journal
"Will the runaway pea become a snack for one of the animals it rolls by? Illustrations call to mind folk art in this rollicking translation from the French. The tale is likely to hold up to multiple readings and may inspire young gardeners!"–Reading Rockets, National Public Media
"Told with repetition, predictive vocabulary, and bright colorful art, delivers a natural history lesson about plant life. Entertaining, charming, original, "Roll, Roll, Little Pea" is enthusiastically commended as an addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 3-6." –Midwest Book Review
2023-03-29
In this French import, a pea escapes a bowl and starts an adventure.
While a girl is shelling peas, one accidentally drops to the floor and rolls away. The tiny green sphere then becomes a possibility for lunch for many different animals. As the pea rolls through the house and out the door, a mouse looks at it hungrily, a cat wants to “CRUNCH” it, and a rabbit wishes to “NIBBLE” it. Bolded action words that describe how each animal would consume the pea highlight new vocabulary. Propelled by a baffling momentum, the pea rolls down a path, through some mud (where a pig wants to “MUNCH” it), and into a forest. It is finally swallowed by a hole in the ground. The next harvest season, a new shoot appears, and high atop a tendril, the girl is reunited with the pea. The repeated refrain “ROLL, ROLL, LITTLE PEA” makes the tale roll along as merrily as the little pea itself. Bold graphic designs with thick accent lines are visually arresting. The girl, seen only on the first and last pages, has dark skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sneaky plant life-cycle story for the youngest set. (Picture book. 3-6)
