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P010 → Alfi Beasti, don’t eat that!
A children's book written and illustrated by Kate. Published by Puffin Books in 2004 and available here on Amazon. A story of fussy eating habits and exasperated parents, inspired by our young son, our very own fussy eater!
Alfi Beasti, Don't Eat That! - inspired by our three-year-old son's bizarre eating habits - was published by Puffin books in 2004, but the Beasti family had begun in my mind and on paper many years before that, starting with jam labels and birthday cards.
My first kid's book featuring the Beastis extended family was: The Accidental Orange Sauce, a tale of marmalade absence and the resourceful Beastis answer to the problem, followed by: The day of Unnecessary Tidiness in which our heroes prepare for the visit of an eccentric aunt.
The books were too word-heavy according to various agents, so I embarked on an exploration of the picture book world which resulted in my rough draft of Alfi Beasti, finding an excellent agent - Celia Catchpole - and a book deal with Puffin.
Reviews:
Nursery Education. Top read!
Alfi Beasti, Don't Eat That! oozes child appeal from the front cover to the last page while being an educational bargain for children, parents and practitioners alike . . .a great story and a good way to start a discussion on healthy balanced diets with young children . . .
Sunday Express magazine Book cupboard: Best for fussy eaters!
The family grapples with a fussy boy who won't eat any food but is happy to chew on his shoes. Sound familiar?
Primary Times: A funny rhyming twist on fussy eating by talented new-comer, Kate A Hardy. Alfi Beasti, Don't Eat That! combines, with warmth and humour, both a sympathetic insight into dealing with fussy eaters and a child's eye view of food...
Child education: A colourful and funny story about a fussy eater. It is only when grandma Beasti comes to help Alfi prepare exciting and creative dishes like banana canoes, pizza fish, wobbly jelly cat and strange but yummy green stuff dip for his birthday that he learns just how much fun food can be...
Junior magazine: ...a fast-paced story with fun illustrations and adult humour. A gentle lesson that children need to be involved in what they eat.
Kid's Stuff magazine: ...Alfi, the lovingly illustrated beasti in question is the reluctant eater of things given to him by his parents, but he relishes snacking on forbidden 'foods' such as shoes and hats, even videos. Lines such as: Alfi Beasti, it's the middle of the night! Of course you’re hungry, you didn't eat a bite! will sound familiar to many frantic parents who just want their child to eat a proper meal.
There’s a fabulous reading of Alfi Beasti from the Bede Community Primary School here.
Following the publication of Alfi Beasti, I worked on other stories involving the Beasti family, and other creatures, but following our move to France my passion moved to painting landscape, and eventually writing for the adult market. The stories and illustrations wait, however, in a drawer...