How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans by David LaRochelle and illustrator Mark Fearing is a funny children’s picture book that combines absurd humor, expressive illustrations, and picky-eater themes that many families will instantly recognize. If you’re searching for humorous books about vegetables, picky eating, or read-aloud picture books for elementary-aged children, this title stands out immediately.
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What Is How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans About?
Let’s start with the premise.
How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans pretty much sums it up.
All of a sudden, during the abnormally normal dinner that included a side of green beans (do other parents actually feed their kids vegetables!?), Martha ends up finding herself the unlikely hero of a green bean gang shakeup.
The green beans gang is not too happy about all those adults telling people to eat green beans and end up abducting Martha’s parents.
Martha’s parents must have been the only parents in the town who were actually trying to serve their kid green beans (which makes sense because I’m not sure I know more than one set of parents who actually do this), which must be the reason no other adults were taken hostage.
Or, and more likely, the green bean gang did away with those other folk in a very uncivilized manner…cause they’re tough like that.
As you can imagine, the story takes a turn when Martha decides it’s time to once and for all…EAT GREEN BEANS!
And she does.
Quite a few of them.
Beards, cowboy hats, and even their pointy boots.
Yuck?
Why Kids Love This Funny Picture Book
And now, why would my son ask to keep this book?
Like many young readers, my son immediately connected with Martha’s hatred of vegetables, which is part of what makes the book such an effective and funny read-aloud experience for families with picky eaters.
Not sure if he’s ever tried a green bean.
So, he likely found Martha quite easy to relate to in her disdain for them, as I bet most kids would.
Humor and Illustrations That Work for Read-Aloud Time
Mark Fearing’s cartoon-style illustrations give the green beans exaggerated personalities that younger readers immediately connect with during read-aloud sessions.
The illustrations were fun and expressive but carried the story very well.
At one point, a whole gang of green beans was shown front and center (thanks artist Mark!) so we took the liberty of naming all the green beans (sorry author David if they already had names).
Why This Book Connected with My Son
The names were terrible, of course, but it caused my son to cackle his way to a painfully postponed bedtime.
One of the most subtle parts of the book (the very end) may have been the best.
Because my son immediately said, and I quote, “Next time, the leafy green salad attacks!”
Who Will Enjoy This Book?
Pick up a copy at your local library or wherever books are sold.
You’ll enjoy reading it (as long as a kid who hates vegetables is present).
This book is best for kids:
- Ages 4–8,
- preschool,
- kindergarten,
- elementary readers,
- family read aloud.
And the best readers of this book are:
- Parents of picky eaters,
- librarians,
- elementary teachers,
- bedtime readers,
- fans of absurd humor.
What makes How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans work so well is that it understands its audience. Kids love the absurdity of vegetables becoming villains, while parents enjoy watching the story gently poke fun at picky eating habits.
The humor lands, the illustrations elevate the story, and the ending leaves enough room for children to keep imagining what happens next. If you’re looking for a picture book that can generate laughter during story time and spark conversation afterward, this one is well worth adding to the bookshelf.
