Chapter book of the week: Everything on a Waffle

I love waffles. Who doesn't? Waffles with blueberries, waffles with whipped cream, waffles dripping with butter and syrup. Obviously I would love The Girl on the Red Swing, which is the restaurant in Polly Horvath's Everything on a Waffle. Everything you order in that restaurant come on a waffle. Spaghetti on a waffle. Fish on a waffle. Definitely for the adventurous eater.


Primrose Squarp spends a lot of time at The Girl with the Red Swing. Her parents were both lost at sea (or perhaps not...), so she now lives with her uncle Jack in Canada. He doesn't have much time to entertain her, so Primrose passes her time at the restaurant, learning to cook and observing the locals. Recipes are even included at the end of every chapter (and serving the meals on waffles is optional).

This would be a great read-aloud--the descriptions are wonderful but not too Tolkien-ish, the book is both sad and funny, and all of the characters are memorable. And if you need more convincing, this was a Newbery Honor Book in 2002.