Seven Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the Cafeteria

Addressing kids' anxiety about unfamiliar situations, this irreverent book lists and explains the rules a kid must follow to survive the perilous world of the school cafeteria. Warnings about the pitfalls lurking in the lunchroom have Kyle imagining and fearing the worst, as the server, the lunch ladies, the cashier, and the menacing big kids become terrifying giant insects in his eyes. Kyle inadvertently breaks every rule but winds up enjoying his lunch—and overcoming his fears.

"Austin's acrylic, colored pencil, and digital illustrations both wonderfully portray Kyle's every emotion and hysterically show his imagined metaphors . . .Some solid advice about both the cafeteria and life is embedded in this tongue-in-cheek tale." —Kirkus   "The illustrations are particularly effective, artfully transforming various characters into insects in such a way that even the grossest (meat-eating water bugs!) become appealing. Viewers learn along with Kyle that anxiety-inducing situations aren’t always what they seem." —Booklist