Children's book of the day

Today's book recommendation is Arnie the Doughnut. Although it was published earlier this year, I've just gotten around to reading it, and both I and my six-year-old test case highly recommend it. The story is about Arnie, a doughnut who is surprised to discover that doughnuts are made to be eaten.

Other reviewers have said . . .

Arnie is one of the cleverest, funniest books I've seen in a long time. . . . As in all of Keller's books, there's an abundance of witty text and amusing illustrations.

Alice Cary, Bookpage

. . . you may be assured that Arnie's journey of self-discovery, disillusionment and survival makes gripping reading. And rereading. Keller's ideas froth and bubble well beyond the brim of her simple plot, and she has generously planted several books' worth of sight gags and witty asides in the margins and backgrounds of her dazzling acrylic-and-collage pages.

. . . Much of the joy of ''Arnie the Doughnut'' -- as with ''Scrambled States'' -- lies in unpacking such visual and verbal delights. Not all of these are lighthearted. ''Sometimes life feels like a big bonk on the head,'' a disconsolate Arnie says. He is right. It's seldom that you find such depth in a doughnut.

Lawrence Downes, The New York Times

Some of the funniest parts of this book are in the little asides spoken by the baked goods themselves.

Candace Schmidt, Kidspoint