How Are You Peeling? Foods With Moods, by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers. Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, 1999.

Summary: Emotions are discussed in rhyming text to accompany fruit and vegetables decorated with faces.

Analysis: Aww! This is an ideal instance of an all-ages picture book. The fruit and veggies are goofy enough that even high schoolers will be amused, but it asks fairly detailed questions about emotions; it's not just "the pepper is sad; the orange is happy". Examples: "How do you feel when someone is mean? Timid? Bold?" Or in-between?/ "So many smiles! Can you decide who's feeling safe? Who's feeling pride?"

Literary device: The poetry is simple couplets and stanzas, with a jaunty rhythm and various rhyme schemes.

Illustrations: Photographs of carefully carved fruit and veggies with black-eyed-pea eyes. Adorable!

Rating: 5Q/5P

Curricular connections: This would be perfect in a therapy setting for any age. It's fun and nonthreatening but still asks all sorts of interesting questions about emotions and relationships. Likewise, it would fit in in a high school psychology/health class dealing with therapy or emotions. And it would make a great art class idea for any age group, though you'd need a lot of funny-looking vegetables.