Empty Fridge

When I picked up Empty Fridge by Gaetan Doremus, I loved the feel of it in my hands. The heavy cardboard cover felt weighty, and its unusual size (tall and rather narrow) seemed to fit my hands.

The story is weighty too. In the tradition of Stone Soup, a modern-day neighborhood (in this case an apartment building) throws together odds & ends they found in their fridge to create a delicious quiche they enjoy together as a community. Their ingenuity inspires other neighbors to do the same, and soon pockets of people around the city are eating their own unique quiche together.

What makes this story truly special is the inclusion of Andrew. In the illustrations, Andrew lives in the laundry room, with a very full shopping cart by his side. But instead of ignoring Andrew as the (albeit implied) homeless man, the people in the building seek him out to include him in their new tradition,

Highly recommended for ages 3 and up.