Spoon

Young Spoon lives a fairly happy life with a large extended family (including a ladle and a very fancy Aunt Silver), but he can't help being a bit jealous of some of his friends. Knife, for example, “is so lucky! He gets to cut, he gets to spread.” Not to mention Chopsticks: “Everyone thinks they're really cool and exotic! No one thinks I'm cool or exotic.” Spoon's mother doesn't try to change his mind, but reacts neutrally. Outside conversations let readers know that Spoon is being envied right back: “Spoon is so lucky!” sigh the Chopsticks. “We could never function apart.” At bedtime, Spoon's mom offers encouragement (“Your friends will never know the joy of diving headfirst into a bowl of ice cream”) then invites him into the big bed—to spoon, of course. The talented Magoon (Mystery Ride! ) gives the utensils plenty of personality, with wide eyes and expressive antlike appendages, and Rosenthal's (Little Pea ) skillful storytelling moves along briskly. The humorous but earnest message about valuing one's own talents comes through loud and clear. Ages 2–6. (Apr.)