Most Marshmallows, by Rowboat Watkins

Charming and unexpected, Most Marshmallows, by Rowboat Watkins, is a sweetly delicious delight. Its superpower is its brilliantly executed absurdity.

“Most marshmallows don’t grow on trees, or come from storks, or even Mars.”

The story continues to list things that most marshmallows really do do, which are ordinary tasks and events relatable to a child. Then Rowboat Watkins throws in a little curve ball like the fact that marshmallows go to school to “learn to be squishy,… and why they can’t breath fire. Fire is only for dragons.”

But maybe what I love the most is the illustrations. Yay and ‘atta way’ to Rowboat for using real marshmallows and, as it says in the medium listing at the front of the book,

“The pictures were built out of marshmallows, construction paper, cake sprinkles, cardboard, acorn tops, twisty ties, pencil, and whatever else was needed.”

🙌👏❤️ And they are extraordinary! The author/illustrator is asking the reader to believe that this marshmallow world really exists. The reader needs to do this on some level (even if it is silly and whimsical) in order to relate to the book/story and care about reading it again (and again). By using textures and drawing on the marshmallows and setting the characters in two dimensional, or three dimensional settings, he lets us believe that all this could be ‘real’.

The takeaway is that marshmallows can do and be anything. And because of the illustration medium(s), a reader will believe it’s true. Look at all their personalities and expressions, they’re a riot. Oh… and please, please, please, peek under the jacket. 👀

(A nod and a thank you to my friend, Tess, for reminding me about this darling book and lending me her copy!)

Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Jennifer is the illustrator and author of several acclaimed picture books. Most recently is Always by My Side, 'A Stuffie Story', which she wrote and illustrated. She also is both the author and illustrator of Playing Possum, and Blue Ethel. Jennifer illustrated Gondra’s Treasure, written by Newbery award winner Linda Sue Park. As well as, Sometimes You Fly, by Newbery medalist, Katherine Applegate. She illustrated Yaks Yak, Animal Word Pairs by Linda Sue Park, The Inventor's Secret, What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford, by Suzanne Slade, Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons, by Alice B. McGinty, and The Adventures of a South Pole Pig, by Chris Kurtz.

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