Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - Judi Barrett

Summary: If food dropped like rain from the sky, wouldn't it be marvelous? Or would it? It could, after all, be messy. And you'd have no choice. What if you didn't like what fell? Or what if too much came? Have you ever thought of what it might be like to be squashed flat like a pancake? (Image and summary from amazon.com)

My review: My mother began reading this book to me when I was very little. I remember being completely transfixed by the concept of a land where the food came down as weather. The illustrations were captivating - jello sunsets, falling frankfurters, drifts of cream cheese and jelly sandwiches, pea soup fog, giant pancakes that force school closures and so much more. It was all so magical that I couldn't help but love it.

As an adult, this is still one of my all-time favorite books to read to my kids. I love watching their faces as they experience the same kind of wonder that I did when I was little, and in some ways still do. Wouldn't it be great to go out back and hold up your plate and have dinner *POOF* land on it? Or to be able to have freshly fallen orange juice in the morning? As a woman who doesn't particularly care to cook, this book is my dream come true--well, until that whole rogue weather thing. Then, not so much.

There is a sequel to this book, called Pickles to Pittsburgh that isn't quite as good (IMHO) but still gorgeously illustrated and imaginative. It's also been made into a movie recently, but just in case there is any question about it - this book is always and will forever be better than the movie - which other than provided a few good scenes straight from the book, was completely whacked out.

My rating: 5 Stars...or meatballs. Whatever.

Sum it up: A deliciously creative book that sparks the imagination.