Chocolate Fever - Robert Kimmel Smith

Summary:  Henry Green was a boy who loved chocolate.  He liked it bitter, sweet, dark, light, and daily; for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks; in cakes, candy bars, milk, and every other form you could possibly imagine.  Henry probably loved chocolate more than any boy in the history of the world.

One day -- it started off like any other day -- Henry found that strange things were happening to him.  First, he made medical history with the only case of Chocolate Fever ever.  Then he found himself caught up in a wild and hilarious chase, climaxed by a very unusual hijacking!  (Summary from book - Image from betterworldbooks.com )

My Review:  I have been spending a lot of time reading to my kids this summer.  Most recently we’ve read the entire Percy Jackson and the Olympian series and the first Harry Potter book.  My oldest daughter was in heaven, but my five year old struggled to follow along.  So, when it came time to start a new book, I was looking for something that would entertain my oldest daughter while still being simple and engaging for the one who still likes to look at pictures.  This book wasn’t too long or complex and had pictures every couple of pages.  Perfect.  Besides, how could I resist a book called Chocolate Fever?

I enjoyed reading about Henry’s love of chocolate.  Obviously it was easy to relate, but I liked that the author took it to the extreme with Henry’s love of mashed potatoes with chocolate syrup and buttered noodles with chocolate sprinkles on top.   My children were delighted with all the silliness and amazed that his parents would allow all that chocolate.  I could just see their little minds whirring with “what if’s”.  When Henry develops chocolate fever and goes on the run, he ends up hitching a ride with a trucker.  Um, what?!   Guess it’s time to have a little chat with the kids about stranger danger. 

My favorite part of the book was the last two chapters.  The possibility of “Cinnamon Fever” had my kids excited and I loved the message that “we can’t have everything we want every time we want it!”  I really hope my kids were listening.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a candy bar.

My kids' thoughts:  "Don’t run away! Don’t eat too much chocolate!" (Sophie)
"Not the best book ever, but it’s a good book." (Kaisa)

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  At one point, Henry gets a ride from a trucker.  I'd just mention to your kids that they shouldn't do that, and keep on truckin'.

Sum it up:  A sweet little read.

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