Summary
Herbert Likes Sherbert seems at first to be a story about a child’s reluctance to try new things. As the story progresses, he learns that while cherishing memories is a beautiful thing, sometimes holding onto something for too long can hold us back! Share in Herbert’s discovery as he braves the outcome of making new choices.
My Review
Emily Turin is a local author who I met at a book signing at our local bookstore, Barney Loves Books, in Woodstown, NJ. Besides having a fun day with her and 2 other local authors, we all exchanged books to support each other.
Herbert Likes Sherbert is one of two picture books by Emily. I chose to share this one with you because it’s summer, and hey, don’t most of us love ice cream or sherbert in the summer?
Herbert’s story is written in rhyme, which kids love, and which is hard to do well. Emily Turin does rhyme well.
“He didn’t like cones, he didn’t like shakes.
He didn’t like Neapolitan cakes.
Not vanilla, not chocolate,
Not strawberry crème,
It was sherbert for Herbert when it came to ice cream.”
How fun is that for a beginning?
All through the story, everyone tries to get Herbert to try other things besides his beloved sherbert.
BUT … there’s a very special reason Herbert only wants to eat sherbert. He and his grandpa used to enjoy sherbert together, but Grandpa is gone now. Herbert thinks if he tries something different, his memory of their times together will be gone.
Mom explains the memory will still be there, so the next time Herbert goes to the ice cream shop, he tries something new. And he tells Grandpa’s picture all about it.
“But don’t worry,” whispered Herbert. “I still like sherbert.”
Let me tell you, I wanted to SOB! In a good way. But since I was out in public, I just let a few tears fall. It was unexpected but not unwelcome and beautifully done.
The illustrations are colorful and so much fun. (See what I did there? Haha!)
In Conclusion
Herbert Likes Sherbert is a delightful, poignant story children and their parents will love! And they’ll want to go out for ice cream ~ OR SHERBERT ~ when they’re done reading it. I know I did!
- Publisher : Kate Butler Books
- Publication date : November 6, 2019
- Language : English
- Print length : 38 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1948927640
- ISBN-13 : 978-1948927642
Pam Halter is a former home-schooling mom, has been a children’s book author since 1995, a freelance children’s book editor since 2006, and was the children’s book editor for Fruitbearer Publishing until January 2023. She’s the author of Fairyeater, a YA fantasy, and the Willoughby and Friends picture book series (available on her website.) Pam has also published short stories in Ye Olde Dragon Books , the Whitstead Anthologies and Renewed Christmas Blessings. Her first short story won Readers Choice in Realmscapes.
Pam lives in Southern New Jersey with her husband, Daryl, special needs adult daughter, Anna, and four cats. When she’s not writing, Pam enjoys spending time with her grands, reading, quilting, gardening, cooking, playing the piano, Bible study, and walking long country roads where she discovers fairy homes, emerging dragons, and trees eating wood gnomes.