When PB Met J

by Katelyn Aronson (Author) Sarah Rebar (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

The best friendship since sliced bread!

Once upon a kitchen, the Fridgers chilled on one side.

The Cupboard Crew loafed about on the other.

The kitchen may look like a peaceful place, but there was never more division than between the Fridgers and the Cupboard Crew. The Fridgers could be a little too cool. The Cupboard Crew--well, they often got stale. It was clear that the two should never mix. But that was until Peanut Butter (PB, for short) met Jelly. When Jelly finds herself in a sticky situation, it's Peanut Butter to the rescue. And the result is the best friendship since sliced bread.

When PB Met J is the deliciously funny origin story of every child's favorite lunch. Readers will cheer that these sweet and salty characters should always stick together.

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Hardcover
$18.99

School Library Journal

Gr 1-2--"The Best Friendship Since Sliced Bread!" is the faux subtitle here, and few readers will want to argue. The comic book--style art is right at home for the anthropomorphized twosome featuring a doe-eyed Jelly and bespectacled PB. Jelly lives with the Fridgers, who are a bit snooty about the Cupboard Crew, and PB lives across the way in the cupboard, wondering what happens when the fridge door closes. There is an incident with a lid, an unconscious PB on the ground, and a family dog who gets blamed for everything. Unity is restored, and PB and Jelly get along just fine. For children curious about the graphic novels their older siblings are reading, this is the place to start, with easy-to-follow speech bubbles and action that is clearly outlined and reinforced by the words. The bright illustrations are drawn in downright flirtatious colors; who knew that refrigerator light was so romantic? VERDICT This feels like the first book of a beautiful relationship, and the other condiments, or side characters, are ready to step into the refrigerator's glowing limelight as well. Readers will clamor for more.--Kimberly Olson Fakih

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

This treat of a picture book blends West Side Story with the domestic perspective of Toy Story, serving up a satisfying helping of kitchen-based humor for the pun enthusiast. - BCCB
Katelyn Aronson
Katelyn Aronson is a former children's bookseller and the author of several picture books. She grew up in California and now lives in France.

Stephanie Laberis is a character designer and illustrator who specializes in creating art for animation and children's publications. She is the illustrator of Orangutan Hats and Other Tools Animals Use as well as the Grumpy Cat books and many other Little Golden Books. Stephanie Laberis lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593327395
Lexile Measure
550
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication date
January 20, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV050000 - Juvenile Fiction | Cooking & Food
Library of Congress categories
-

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