Everything on a Waffle

Reach for this book when your child is facing a loss that feels impossible to accept, or when they are struggling with being 'different' in a community that values conformity. Everything on a Waffle follows eleven-year-old Primrose Squig, whose parents disappear in a storm at sea. Despite the town's insistence that she is an orphan, Primrose maintains an unwavering, quirky hope that they will return. Through her relationships with her well-meaning but overwhelmed uncle and the kind owner of a local diner, she explores the complexities of human nature and the resilience of the human spirit. This Newbery Honor book balances heavy themes of grief with eccentric humor and a touch of the absurd. It is an excellent choice for children aged 9-12 who appreciate sophisticated storytelling that doesn't shy away from life's unpredictability while still offering a warm, hopeful embrace.