[For Ages 3–6] “I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato” | A Humorous Picture Book Review that Embraces the Toddler Stubbornness of “I Won’t Eat It!”

Synopsis

The older brother, asked by their parents, often looks after his younger sister, who is a very picky eater.

The sister insists, “I don’t like carrots. I don’t like beans.” The list goes on—potatoes, mushrooms, spaghetti, sausages, cheese, apples, even fried fish. And finally, she firmly declares: “I will not ever never eat a tomato!”

That’s when her brother comes up with a clever idea. He renames each food with a playful Japanese twist:

• Carrots become “eda-mikan” (literally, “branch mandarins from Jupiter”)
• Beans are “amedama midori” (literally, “green candy drops from the other side of the Earth”)
  …and so on, turning each food into a fantastical dish.

“Well, maybe I’ll try just one bite…”
Little by little, the sister’s reactions begin to change. The playful back-and-forth between siblings and the imaginative wordplay make this story both funny and heartwarming.

👉 Since this book is originally in Japanese, part of the fun is in enjoying these quirky wordplays as they sound in Japanese.

Impressions

“I don’t like this food. I don’t want to eat that…”
In our home, the “mealtime problem” repeats almost every day. Sometimes it leaves me sighing in frustration.

Thinking back, ever since my son was two, we’ve struggled with his “no, no” phase. As parents, we just want him to get some nutrition, while he prefers ready-made foods and snacks.

We tried different tricks—pretending to be the vegetables saying “Please eat me!” worked for a while, but not for long. Later we moved on to the “become what you want” strategy: “If you eat this, you’ll grow strong muscles!” or “You’ll get taller!” But eventually, those methods lost their power, and we were left with nothing but: “Just eat it already!”

Then we read this picture book—and my son burst out laughing.
There’s a scene where the big brother gently says, “Too bad, carrots aren’t on today’s menu.” I was startled, because the carrots are sitting right there on the plate! When the sister asks, “Then what’s this?” the brother replies, “Oh no, this isn’t a carrot—it’s an eda-mikan from Jupiter!”

At that moment, the sister decides, “Well, maybe I’ll have a bite… not bad at all.” Watching this, my son and I looked at each other and laughed out loud together.

It reminded me that a “disliked food” is often just a matter of preconception, which makes it even harder for kids to try. But when you change the name or create a new setting, it sparks their imagination and turns eating into a fun challenge.

After reading this book, my son even gave broccoli his own made-up name and ate it with excitement.
It’s a book that made me realize again how important it is in parenting to move a child’s heart—not just their appetite.

This is the kind of wordplay that shines only in Japanese.

Reviews from Rakuten (JP), Amazon (JP), Ehon Navi, and Dokusho Meter (a Japanese book review community)

Common Points Across the Four Review Sites

Across Rakuten (JP), Amazon (JP), Ehon Navi, and Dokusho Meter (a Japanese book review community), three common themes emerged:

• The humor in the sibling interaction
• The fun of the imaginative naming
• Hints that can be applied to real life

In particular, the idea of “giving disliked foods playful new names” was highly praised—not only as a source of fun during read-aloud sessions, but also as a creative strategy parents might want to try at the dinner table.

The heartwarming sibling relationship and the stylish, collage-inspired artwork were also noted as points that captivate readers.

Recommended Situations

• For children who are picky eaters
  • By changing the name or the way food is seen, it gives them a chance to think, “Maybe I’ll try just a little.”
• When mealtime feels gloomy
  • Even those never-ending “no’s” at the table can be turned into laughter through humor.
• When you want to enjoy sibling banter
  • The brother’s efforts and the sister’s reactions bring smiles to both children and parents.
• For read-aloud sessions
  • A popular choice for group readings in schools and kindergartens. The unique naming sparks excitement and laughter.
• When you want to stimulate a child’s imagination
  • The game of “renaming foods” inspires creativity and brings new fun to the dining table and daily life.

🛒Where to Buy “I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato”

＼ Check out the shops where you can buy the picture book “I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato”! 📕 ✨️ ／
This is the Japanese edition！

Amazon (JP)

Rakuten (JP)

＼ Check out the English edition of “I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato”! 📕 ✨️ ／
This is the English edition！

Amazon (JP)

Rakuten (JP)