Book Review

Tucker the Tomato
by Rey Ortega and Amanda Moeckel
Review by Erin Pavlina

When my friend Rey Ortega told me he was writing a children's book that would appeal to vegan parents I was thrilled to say the least. There aren't too many books out there I feel really good about reading to my three-year-old. I've always wanted to find books to read to her that helped her understand what kind of family we are. So along came Tucker...

Article continues below

Although the book doesn't have an overtly vegan slant, it does have a message that we as vegan parents will appreciate. It showcases the differences between produce grown conventionally with pesticides versus produce grown organically. Tucker the Tomato does an excellent job of entertaining children while also delivering a valuable message. My three-year-old was utterly enthralled by the story, giggling where appropriate, and demonstrating compassion as Tucker desperately tries to find his way back to his friends.

As the story opens, Tucker the Tomato is happily sitting aboard an organic tomato truck bound for the natural food store. But a bump in the road causes Tucker to fall out! Oh no, what is he going to do now?

So begins Tucker's journey to reunite with his organic companions. On his journey he meets several characters, some who try to help Tucker and some who want to play tricks on him. When Tucker meets other tomatoes, he is shocked to see they are pale with brown wilted leaves and a green powder all over them that makes Tucker cough. He escapes the terrible clutches of the pesticide-laden conventional tomatoes and continues on his way. Eventually a wise old grasshopper points Tucker in the right direction, and at the end of the story Tucker is reunited with his organic tomato friends in the natural food store.

The book is full color and 32 pages. It's suitable for children of nearly all ages. Since I've been so taken with this book, I decided to sell it directly through VegFamily. If you'd like a copy of Tucker the Tomato sent to you immediately, just click the link below. It's a treasure of a book and I hope Rey has more coming!

Order Tucker the Tomato Now!

Sponsors: