“I want pink…pink…Pinkalicious!” exclaims Sloane.
This picture book is a frequent choice for her.
I can also appreciate this genius idea of selling the color pink to little girls.
SUMMARY:
In the beginning, Pinkalicious (and yes, that is her name) makes delicious pink cupcakes with her mother. But, she eats so many of these mouthwatering pinky sweets that eventually her parents say “NO MORE”!
However, her enthusiasm for pink cupcakes does not stop. Soon her skin turns pink, a medical condition known as “pinkititus ” according to her doctor:
“The next morning when I woke up, I was pink!
My face was pink, my hands were pink and my belly was pink!”
So her doctor prescribes a remedy of green foods.
Even then, Pinkalicious will not be stopped from dining on pink cupcakes until she wakes up and discovers that eating all that pink has left her RED!
The cure for such disobedience?
Pinkalicious must feed on “icky green relish,” artichokes, brussel sprouts, spinach or any other green vegetable in order to return to her pre-pink state.
AUDIENCE:
The book is recommended for readers 4 to 8 years, but pink-loving toddlers will enjoy many of details in the illustrations. For example, Pinkalicious’ princess/ fairy ensemble, a pink chiffon dress accessorized with wand and tiara, is a fashion statement admired -and sometimes duplicated- by Sloane.
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR:
Pinkalicious was co-written by sisters Victoria and Elizabeth Kann with Victoria doing the illustrations. Apparently the plot of the book began as an April Fool’s joke when Victoria sent the story to friends and family explaining that her daughter turned pink after eating too many pink cupcakes.
The book was first published in 2006, and was followed by Purplicious (2007), Goldilicious (2009) and Silverlicious (2011).
Victoria has continued writing and illustrating with 64 books in the Pinkalicious series.
READING OPPORTUNITIES:
Pinkalicious is an entry level start to young reader picture book schadenfreude, better known as the state of taking joy in the misfortune of others.
As evidence, Sloane stares intently at the illustration of Pinkalicious stamping her feet.
“She’s being bad!” she will tell me happily.
Sloane understands that if you disobey your parents, then bad things will happen. She clearly enjoys the misfortunes of Pinkalicious and is delighted to explain to me, “See? She got red.”
Then, she will laugh.
Oddly enough, Pinkalicious has been banned in schools in at least one state when parents raised concerns about the main character eating too many sweets.
I am confident that Sloane could happily explain the book to those parents.
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