Review by BRIGITTE ROZARIO

HAYLEY'S FRUITASTIC GARDEN
By Mohana Gill
Illustrated by Tan Vay Fern
Publisher: MPH

If the cover doesn't get you, the illustrations and content will. This book will appeal to both children and parents and it is a keeper.

Written by Myanmar-born Malaysian-based author Mohana Gill, it bears the “fruitastic” name which her fans will recognise from her previous book of the same name.

This is Mohana's fourth book. The first three are Fruitastic!, Vegemania! and Buku Resipi Mudah untuk Kanak-Kanak: Buah-Buahan dan Sayur-Sayuran untuk Gaya Hidup Sihat. The last one was written on the request of Fama (Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority).

Hayley's Fruitastic Garden tells the story of a little girl named Hayley who goes on a lovely adventure with her cat Bonbon. She is joined by a little boy named Zac and his dog Ziggy. They discover a place called Fruitastic.

Inside, they find all sorts of fruit trees – apple, apricot, banana, blueberry, durian, cherry, and various fruit plants like cantaloupe, strawberry and raspberry.

Along with discovering various different types of fruits, there is a little “Did you know” tidbit – interesting factoids about the fruits.

There are also recipes for the different fruits – pies, muffins, tarts, jellies, salads, cakes, puddings and even some yummy drinks.

This is a book that the child can read on his or her own or a parent can read to the child. The illustrations by Tan Vay Fern are adorable. If you remember, she did the illustrations for the picture books on shapes written by Wong Ching Hsia. 

Hayley's Fruitastic Garden brings local and foreign fruits to children, introducing them, informing kids and parents of their benefits and even how to prepare them in a way that is simple yet appetising.

This book should get your children curious enough about the different fruits and they might even want to try out some of the recipes. Otherwise, you could get your child to join you in the kitchen to make one of the recipes in this book and by doing that, hopefully, get your child to try that fruit.

It's a great book on many different levels – it introduces fruits, is informative, has recipes and provides an opportunity for parent and child to bond and spend time together as they try out the recipes.

According to Mohana, kids will eat anything they cook so if you're having problems getting your child to eat fruits, then get this book and try out the recipes together. Your child will try the fruits if they're in one of the yummy dishes in this book. The muffins, cakes and jellies look simply scrumptious (to borrow Hayley's word).

Highly recommended.

* Read the interview with the author: Sharing a passion for fruits