Hap-pea all Year, a monthly, where’s-the-pea #KidLit joyfest

Kid Lit is a fun genre. It’s also one that people who don’t have someone in that demographic might not know. Keith Baker and his peas are one that we just discovered. It’s the soul sibling to Homer Simpson when he said, ‘give peas a chance’. Then Mr. Burns asked, ‘how do you want to get the peas’? ‘With a fork’..,but that’s another story. Hap-pea All Year is a kidlit book that teaches pre-k through early elementary school kids the months of the year by showing peas having fun.

It’s a gaggle of anthropomorphic peas, having fun and doing the things that happen in that month. Each month is front and center in very large font that’s spread out over two pages. For example in July we see about 25 peas camping, watching a shooting star in the night sky, catching fireflies or hanging out on their sleeping bag.

Astute children will notice that there are certain things that appear in each month. I noticed that there is a lady bug hidden in every month, sometimes a pea is playing with him and other times its head is barely visible. It’s hiding in the leaves, climbing a pot or doing something cute. There is also the corresponding number to each month that’s slightly more prominent than our red and black insect.

It’s not as difficult as finding Waldo because this is the pea’s show. They’re a fun group of vegetables, each one with their own personality and dress. Some of the peas have light or dark green hair that’s unkempt, put together well, in pig tails, receding, combed over and so on. There are also a couple peas who are slick and round up top with no hair at all.

Think of a Minion. They’re all yellow globs, but each of them has their own distinguishing characteristic that makes them unique. The peas in Hap-pea all Year are like that too.

Hap-pea all Year is an oversized illustrated book that retails for $16.99, but you can find it online for just under $13. If you want to support your local school you can also find it at your Scholastic Book Fair. The book is great for ages 4-8.