Nutty to Meet You, Dr. Peanut

Reviewed by Cayden (age 4) and Max (age 2) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (10/08) "Nutty to Meet You!" is about a "Peanutrician" named Dr. Peanut, who is of course, a peanut. He takes care of little peanuts and helps them to be healthy. When he ventures out though he needs to be careful because there are a lot of "giants" (people) around and they eat peanuts! He tries to disguise himself but one day he gets scooped up by humans and has to work to convince them not to eat him. Cayden: "A peanut that is a doctor?" Max: "Doctor. Got a shot!" Cayden: "Yes, we went to the doctor and got our flu shots yesterday, but our doctor wasn't a peanut. I think the peanut doctors only take care of peanuts, not people. Max: "Hide in leaf!" Max: "Giants! Roooaaarrr!!" Cayden: "Uh oh! They got him! I wonder if they are going to smash him up and make peanut butter! We like peanut butter sandwiches. I wonder if those kids do!" Cayden: "Dr. Peanut was pretty funny. I never saw a doctor that looked like a peanut before. I liked when he tried to hide and get away from squirrels and people. My favorite part was when he dressed up like a mouse." Parent's comments: "Nutty to Meet You!" was a cute book that my boys thought was hilarious! Since my boys are huge peanut butter lovers, Dr. Peanut is probably lucky that he didn't encounter my two "giants" instead of the children in the book! The book was very fun and playful and as this book is labeled as "Dr. Peanut Book #1" we look forward to reading more of the fine peanutrician's adventures in the future!

Dr. Peanut, the nutty protagonist of Nutty to Meet You!, is an endearing (and I think will be an enduring) character. His problems, solutions and words of advice were fun to read and fun to read to my four-year-old grand-daughter. We hope for many more installments.

Many of us can remember from childhood how a peanut in it's shell could easily transform into a shoe, a submarine, a baby crib , a finger puppet and so on. Others might remember times when peanut butter was the only thing that would satisfy a craving. Alan Venable has captured both the whimsical and the nurturing( the peanut is a pediatrician) qualities of the peanut in this delightful little book. Through humor and the strategy of role reversal, the book addresses the dilemmas and anxieties that one can experience when small. I would suggest it for the young reader, but the word play and the emotional content also would appeal to the preschool age child.

Peanuts don't talk...or do they? "Nutty to Meet You!" is a charming story of friendship from the perspective of one Dr. Peanut. He encounters strange giants in the form of human children who he fears may turn him into a sandwich or a quick snack. But he is delightfully surprised at the result. "Nutty to Meet You!" is a story of friendship by Alan Venable which is enhanced with cute drawings by Natalie Lewellyn.

A delightful, joyful and magical first book in what promises to be a wonderful series of stories for kids. The tone is gentle, warm and playful...with themes we need and love. Beautiful, funny images abound.