What an honor to have Bob Scott, the cartoonist behind the hilarious MOLLY & THE BEAR graphic novel middle-grade books, with his wife Vicki. write a review of TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION!
“Tova’s Sweet Solution written by Melissa Taylor and illustrated by Aurelie Lise-Anne is a charming and heartwarming book and I love, love, love it.
When little Tova is diagnosed with an allergy to a food that is an intrinsic part of her family’s life, she feels so sad to no longer be a part of her family bakery. But without hesitation, the family begins reformulating recipes without the ingredients that make little Tova sick. It is a hard job, and little Tova (and her most adorable squirrel friend), find the perfect replacement ingredient.
I love this book because when a child is diagnosed with an allergy to food, it can feel like a scary, too-hard problem. But while Melissa takes Tova’s allergy very seriously, she shows parents and caregivers that with work and creativity their life can resume and be happy and rewarding again.
Let me spread the love to Aurelie’s beautiful illustrations too. The book is filled with whimsical, charming, super-sweet drawings and even the scones look happy. I am enchanted with the whole family of bears and their darling little expressions, but the squirrel friend steals my heart. That smile!”
Wow! Thanks, Bob!
TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION is a picture book about food allergies, growth mindset, and creative problem solving written by (me), illlustrated by , and published by .
Buy anywhere you get your books or start here: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/tovas-sweet-solution_9781636551906/.
Imagination Soup
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06/02/2026
I trust Saki Tanaka’s taste and feel so honored she shared this about TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION. Thank you, Saki!
TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION is a new picture book about food allergies, growth mindset, and problem-solving written by me, illustrated by , and published by .
Have you read it yet?
05/27/2026
Want activities to do with TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION? Download this free 5-page educator’s guide from !
https://www.redcometpress.com/picturebooks/tova
05/26/2026
Did you know that I support authors like you with marketing and publicity—as little or as much as you need?!
Whether you want to book more podcasts, get more reviews, or increase your author brand visibility, I can help.
Abby Cooper, author of IT’S A MOM, shares, “My book was much more visible across social media. It also received more reviews by reputable book bloggers and Instagrammers!
Melissa’s expertise in so many valuable areas really sets her apart from others. She brings knowledge from so many areas of writing/publishing/marketing. It feels like whatever you need, she’s got you covered!”
Let’s set up a free 15-minute consult to talk about how I can help your next book launch be successful!
https://imaginationsoup.net/imagination-soup-consulting/ (melissa at imaginationsoup.net)
05/22/2026
Grateful that Betsy Bird shared about TOVA on her blog! Thank you!!
TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION is a new picture book about food allergies, growth mindset, and problem-solving written by me, illustrated by , and published by .
Have you read it yet?
05/04/2026
In a word: Hilarious. But I have more words— relatable, genuine, and sweet. I totally love this tongue-in-cheek book! It’s the perfect gift for moms and moms-to-be. Set up like a how-to book, the surprise is that it’s not for caring for a baby, but for a new mom.
Moms need tummy time. (My favorite illustration shows an exhausted mom lying on the couch.) Moms need round-the-clock care. Moms need socialization. And be warned, moms can be fussy!!(This author explains that this is normal because sometimes moms just need a good cry.)
IT’S A MOM is written by , illustrated by , and published by .
Would you give this to a mom or mom-to-be?
04/30/2026
Some books just beg to be read aloud — and this one is perfection!
With a fun, cumulative structure, a puffer fish sets off a chaotic chain of events after surprising a squid, frightening a turtle, disturbing a dolphin, and spooking a shark... Everyone is disturbed.
Who can help set things back to calm and quiet?
Another reason this book is fabulous is the illustrations, which convey humor and pandemonium.
THE QUIET OCEAN (5/5/26) is written by , illustrated by .cushman, and published by .
04/29/2026
My TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION book launch/storytime last Sunday at bookstore exceeded all my expectations!
It was such a fun celebration, as you’ll see from these photos.
I have so many people to thank for helping create this festive, joyful experience.
Thank you to all my friends who showed up to support me! Wow. I feel so blessed.
Thank you to The Bookies for hosting me.
Thank you to for these incredible photos that captured the joy of the event.
Thank you to for the yummy treats.
Thank you to Courtney at for the info and gift certificates!
Thank you to my husband, Jeff , for his cheerleading and encouragement.
THANK you to and for bringing this dream to life.
If you missed the party, I’ll read you the story over video chat. :) Or come to your kids’ school. Or video chat with your kids’ school. (I’m flexible like that.)
If you still haven’t bought the book, what are you waiting for? It’s almost food allergy awareness week. Read this to celebrate! (And to increase empathy and kindness for your food allergy friends.)
If you want to add snacks, this book pairs well with persistence and gluten-free food. Just saying. (Anything by is my favorite.)
Cheers to TOVA being in the world!🥳
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