A crazy chef helps a young boy get over his picky eating ...

From publisher Digital Leaf comes a tasty storybook app for the pickiest eaters. Feed 'em Fred, The Chef of Dread is about a boy named William who won't eat his veggies and fruit. He eats kid-friendly foods only, like chips and coco pops and even the occasional breaded fishstick, but nothing adventurous. His mom tries all kinds of gourmet options until the arrival of Fred.

Fred is summoned by William's mom at the recommendation of a neighbor, giving readers a fun interactive page where they dial mom's cellphone. When he arrives, he makes recipes that are beyond adventurous. Fred's specialties are things like snake marinated in sheep's blood or cockroach pizza. William turns up his nose, even to the dessert of tongue of lizard trifle. He goes to bed hungry only to wake to snails in his breakfast porridge!

After a second day of Fred's cooking, a very hungry William goes to bed and wakes famished. This time, Fred and William's mom cook side-by-side to give the lad a choice. "William said politely, "No" to Fred, Then sat down before his mother's food and gorged his hungry head." The boy realized how good he had it before and decided to eat the foods his family makes for him from now on.

Told in rhyme, the storytelling in this app is fun and humorous. The illustrations are also well-done, capturing the whimsy of Fred's mealplans beautifully. Page turn is by simple arrows and other settings include a nice page-guide. There is also lovely narration in a British accent, although no highlighting. Overall, Feed 'em Fred will enchant young readers with its interactive and animated features, while serving up a nutritious tale.

Highly Recommended!

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