Some books whisper; this one whisks. MUMAGEDDON! And the Food Magician, Sonya Anise’s riotous, rhyming debut from Books Beautiful, barrels into the kitchen with verse that crackles and illustrations that wink. For readers 8+, it’s mischief with a heartbeat—mischievous, moving, and just grisly enough to delight.
The plot is a delectable dare. A chocolate-besotted boy with a knack for food magic crosses a merciless stepmother, is banished from the kitchen, and shipped to a beastly boarding school. Armed with wit and a whisk, he cooks up fantastical payback that turns discipline into pandemonium. Under the slapstick, a tender, modern fairy tale rises: resilience, empathy, blended families, self-belief—and the quiet power of compromise and forgiveness.
Praise has been loud and luminous. The book has scooped multiple international awards, holds the Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Seal, and sits at 4.9/5 on Amazon (100+ reviews). “Brilliantly crafted… an absolute joy to read!” says Readers’ Favorite’s Miche Arendse. Brett Anderson (Suede) calls it “a brilliant book parents will enjoy as much as their kids.” One fan even raves it’s “as good as Roald Dahl’s poems!!!”
Anise—an award-winning author-illustrator and Central Saint Martins alum—revived a story she wrote 25 years ago, infusing it with global color from lives in Dublin, England, Spain, Australia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and now the Balearic Islands. A sequel is already simmering. Until then, catch the images, cue the book trailer, and bring a spoon—these rhymes are richly served.