Spork is a cleverly written and gorgeously illustrated tale about celebrating our differences. We travel through this delightful tale alongside young Spork, as he moves from feeling quite alone, to revelling in his uniqueness and realising how special his own experience is. This book was used to springboard fantastic discussion work with KS2 children. They really enjoyed identifying with Spork and relating his story to others. I definitely recommend it to all school libraries!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Spork has a spoon for a mom and a fork for a dad. He spends his days in the cutlery draw feeling like he just doesn't fit in - afterall, what even is a spork used for? Illustrated with funny and adorable vintage-style drawings, Spork is a sweet tale about being multiracial and finding your place in a way that is approachable and understandable to young children.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

It's a lovely book about finding your place in the world, and using the skills you have. It also teaches a lesson about not giving up and giving in to what other people want you to be.

very unique, loved how he ended up fitting in. The characters were also super adorable and my cousin loved this book I definitely would recommend it to anyone who enjoys picture books both young and old. lovely well put together for children.

This is a great story for teaching kids about differences. The spork doesn't look like anything else in the cutlery drawer and tries to make himself appear different so he can fit in. But one day he is shown that he has a purpose for being "different" and that being "different" is good. It is a great story for little kids.

Another story where the main character just doesn’t fit in, but finally is able to take his place in the world, doing something that only he can do. The illustrations were cute, and who doesn’t like a spork (the only cutlery available in my school’s cafeteria!)?

Possible Objectionable Material:
Can’t think of anything.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone trying to figure out how to fit in.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. This book also reviewed at http://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-panoply-of-picturebooks.html, Amazon, Goodreads, and Librarything.

Spork is a picturebook written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. I knew I had read the book before, but I loved it so much that I had to reread with my daughter and review.

His mum is a spoon. His dad is a fork. And he's a bit of both. He's Spork!Spork sticks out in the regimented world of the cutlery drawer. The spoons think he's too pointy, while the forks find him too round. He never gets chosen to be at the table at mealtimes until one day a very messy ... thing arrives in the kitchen who has never heard of cutlery customs. Will Spork finally find his place at the table?

Spork is a book about wanting to fit in, and having a hard time finding your place. Spork wants to have a place among the other cutlery- but his differences seem to make him useless until a new person sits at the table. I think this is a wonderful book to spark discussion and more about individuality, identity, and diversity. Whether in terms of heritage, ability, or any other way people feel different or other in a negative way, this book can help the ones feeling left out or unimportant, and those that need or want to have more empathy for other people. Just because we do not see our purpose, or what difference we will have in the world, that does not mean that we never will. The waiting and searching for that place, purpose, or meaning can be painful- but ever person (or piece of cutlery) have a reason for being exactly who the are and those differences are what make life so interesting. The artwork is high energy and helps bring the emotion and meaning of the book a little closer to the reader. This is a must read, and a must have for school and public library collections.

This was a nice little read for my daughter, but didn't stay with her much the first time I read it to her. She wasn't taken in very much by the pictures and the story was well enough for her but made sure we went through everything because she had many questions, mainly why the story was about a spoon-fork boy as she called him and why everyone was being mean. ***I received this copy from Picture Windows Book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

It was a different way to talk to her about the differences in people and the inequality that happens to often, but it took much to discern the similarities when it involved cooking utensils. Not saying that she didn't grasp the concept right away, it just didn't really catch her attention. Other children's book that have had the same theme have been more captivating for her, mostly the illustrations involved and characters.

Although this was not one of our favorites, it still got the message along pretty well at the end of everything, but not something that will have my daughter wanting to read it several more times. It was a cute enough story and great meaning behind it. I don't doubt many others will like it even love it, but as for us it was only turned out to be a three star read.

***I received this copy from Kids Can Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

Delightful illustrations and beautiful text. The story tells the tale of a spork who is different from those around him because he comes from his parents who are a fork and a spoon. Its a great addition to any library that teaches children about family diversity and celebrating ones differences.

Picture books about finding your place in the world, the role you fill better than others, the way your differences make you special, are nothing new. This little book follows a fairly expected path. Its well illustrated without bright or harsh colors.

BOTH IS GOOD. (4 STARS)


Growing up I had family members and friends who were bi-racial or multi-racial. It wasn't something we really talked about much and I don't remember ever reading a book that really addressed it for kids. Knowing how much stories helped me with the things that made me feel different in a bad way I was eager to see what SPORK would bring to the table (no pun intended).

The illustrations are cute and the concept is a lot of fun. I think SPORK will be very relatable not just to kids who are biracial but any who have very different sides of their family.

This adorable insightful children's story conveys the message of accepting differences in a world that often makes life very difficult for those who do not easily conform to societal norms.

Really cute book and very original using a spork to convey a message about "being different is ok". I would definitely recommend it to parents who want to teach their kids an important message about acceptance and self love.

Spork by Kyo Maclear is a picture book dealing with multi-race or multi-ethnic families. In this book they use cutlery to present this notion. Spork has part of his mom, a spoon, and his dad, a fork. He is never picked when someone sets the table, he never gets the bubble bath after a meal and he is shunned by both the spoons and the forks.

This story highlights that there is a place in the world for everyone. You just have to find it. Luckily for Spork, when neither the forks or spoons could handle the baby, he got the chance to show what he could do. Of course, there is a place for everyone, as evidence by the ending of this book. The illustrations are detailed but with little color. The expressions on some of the cutlery is scary at times, but Spork is quite adorable.

I think it is important to help children explore how we are all different. This story could be used in various discussions such as all families are different, bullying by omission, finding your purpose and strengths, be true to yourself.

I received this ARC from Kids Can Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)

RATING: 4 STARS

When you are Spork, you don't fit in with spoons or forks. Spork looks for way to fit in but finds out that being a spork may be the best thing. I really loved the illustrations in this book and would rate them 5 out of 5 stars. The story would be 3.5 - it is a cute story about being yourself.

This story right off the bat has a better analogy for the biracial experience and finding your place in society than another picture book I read recently. It really creatively says a message but does not bog it down. It was fun to read and I could see a kid enjoying this.

A cute book for kids who feel a like they just don’t quite fit in, or a fable about why the spork was even invented, you choose. There’s a bit of a mysterious lead up to the grand finale. See if kids can guess what the new messy thing is before the big reveal. Maclear and Arsenault once again make for a great team. I haven’t seen utensils with so much emotion since Disney’s Beauty and the Beast first came out. Definitely recommending for our elementary library, especially since we have several bi-racial and third culture kids who frequently feel like they just don’t quite fit into common categories well. Also would be good for kids who haven’t figured out their talents, or how their talents can help the broader world yet.

Such a darling book! Quirky drawings, unusual setting, but a fabulous message of finding one's gifts and abilities and using them. Spork doesn't fit in, feels left out, envies the other utensils, wonders if there are any other crazy blends like he is. Then The Messy Thing arrives, and his life suddenly makes a whole lot more sense.

The drawings are detailed and a bit surreal, but not scary. Spork's facial expressions are so clear, with just a few lines. The use of shadow and white space is used masterfully. The writing is simple but not condescending. And Spork was just plain adorable.

Do you know a child that feels like s/he doesn't fit in anywhere? This might be a perfect gift for her or him. Whether it's races or geekdoms, we all feel at one time or another that we don't belong and envy those who do. But this book will help the outsiders feel like they still have a place. I highly recommend this book!

I gratefully received an eARC from the author, publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

Delightful read!
Spork doesn't quite fit in. His mom is a spoon and his dad is a fork. He appears to be a combination of both which means he doesn't quite fit in either category. The issue is resolved in a heartwarming manner that young readers will adore.
The theme of individuality and understanding resonate throughout the book and I foresee it being a book in demand.

Spork is the hybrid of a mother spoon and a father fork. This marriage is rare in the utensil world, as cutlery remains segregated. With his points and roundness in conflict with each other, Spork does not fit in with the other spoons or forks. He attempts to artificially change his appearance but fails. Useless and lonely, Spork contemplates his existence on the dinner table. One day, a messy creature struggles to use the other utensils, and Spork seizes the opportunity to shine. Unafraid, he rushes in to save the meal. This “messy thing” turns out to be a baby, and Spork is just what this infant needs—a little bit of everything—to eat.

Maclear notes that she too is a “Spork,” coming from a biracial household with a British father and Japanese mother. A story about interracial relations and fitting in, Spork is a unique way to explain acceptance, differences, and loving oneself. For preschool to second grade, the text is simple and powerful. Arsenault’s metallic-colored illustrations complement the silverware theme but are also a bit disturbing. Whether meant to be humorous or just some spaghetti sauce, the red liquid bursts look like a bloody massacre. Some of the utensils’ faces are slightly creepy as well as the headshot of the infant, with a bib covered in red splotches. I would have loved this book so much more with cuter faces for the utensils and different coloring for the food.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.