Strangers Beef and Chuck wake up to find themselves in an unfamiliar grocery store. Chuck immediately wants to become friends, but Beef, who is more reserved, is taken back by Chuck’s loud, outgoing personality. Chuck is boastful and likes to make jokes at others’ expense, while Beef is a kind, ... more

Strangers Beef and Chuck wake up to find themselves in an unfamiliar grocery store. Chuck immediately wants to become friends, but Beef, who is more reserved, is taken back by Chuck’s loud, outgoing personality. Chuck is boastful and likes to make jokes at others’ expense, while Beef is a kind, sensitive, caring guy. As the story progresses they grow closer toward becoming friends. Beef and Chuck: A New Beginning introduces young readers and listeners to a memorable cast of characters. Beef and Chuck meet Celeria, a motherly celery stalk; Peppy, a hot pepper with a temper; Brocke, a cool and collected head of broccoli; and Tead, a somewhat slow-witted but well-meaning teabag. Beef and Chuck meet these new friends as they explore the supermarket. Chuck pokes fun at all of them, but Beef is more accepting and open to making friends. The illustrations in Beef and Chuck: A New Beginning bring Hargrove’s characters to life. Children are sure to enjoy the depictions of the grocery store and its colorful, kooky inhabitants. Although Beef and Chuck: A New Beginning is a light-hearted and humorous story, Hargrove has included a vocabulary index at the end which provides definitions for some of the words she skillfully integrated into the text. These vocabulary words include “gaze,” “slender,” “illuminated,” “gloomy,” “mercy” and “gullible.” There are also rules and directions for a vocabulary game called “C-Me” and a game called “Map the Story.” The educational elements of this charming book cannot be overlooked and will engage children by giving them a chance to interact with the story.