Henrietta is Hungry is written by Nina Lim and illustrated by Terence Gomez. It follows a lively little girl who loves to eat new and exotic foods in her journey around the world and back again to her own kitchen.

Henrietta’s appetite for new flavors has taken her from Thailand to France and Scotland. When her palate becomes jaded she heads to even more exotic locations such as Japan, China, Dehli, Greece, and more to sample their cuisines! Each time she feels disappointed – nothing quite suits her tastes for the unusual and surprising.

Finally she puts her creativity to good use by composing her own master soup that she invites her friends who hail from many lands and cultures who bring their own cultural specialties over for a world-cuisine potluck at her place.

The book includes a map of the world with the continents and oceans marked along with pictorial images of landforms, landmarks, and wildlife. Also included is a recipe for Henrietta’s Chicken Soup.

Free downloadable enrichment plans are also available for this book on the author’s website (6 pages in length). They are designed to help you explore the themes of international friendship, food, culture, multiculturalism, geography and feelings and emotions that are included in the app. Ideas for art, geography, writing, research, and more are included – my favorite is charting Henrietta’s journeys on a map of the world.

What We Liked:

Henrietta is Hungry is incredibly charming, my girls really connect with her. Henrietta is so sweetly appealing, and is skillfully illustrated in a wide-eyed, innocent anime-inspired style. My children love the food and all the exotic dishes that Henrietta tries, the ethnic costumes she dons and the backgrounds of the environments she eats in.

My little ones have gone through this story REPEATEDLY! The entire food theme is a fascinating way to approach world travels and international exposure. My oldest loves that a recipe is included (though she hasn’t tried it yet).

Overall:

Henrietta is Hungry takes your child on a whirlwind trip around the world as seen through the experiences of a little girl in search of the perfect meal. International cuisine, exotic locales, and charming illustrations seal the deal on this high-interest storybook app that gives children an early sense of the wider world around them. Budding foodies and armchair travelers will love it! ( )