Mac & Cheese: The Origin Story
(Illustrated by Alison Hawkins; published by Orchard Books)
Mac’s search for a friend was like finding a noodle in a haystack. Cheese was in pieces, provolonely and friendless. Until one day, when Mac’s adventures brought him to Quesoland and everything changed.
Accolades
- #1 New York Times Best Seller
- American Booksellers Association Kids’ Indie Next List – July/August 2026
- Publishers Weekly Best Seller
“Bright retro-style cartoons match the book’s gonzo energy, filling each vignette with sight gags and expressive food characters whose oversize googly eyes do impressive emotional work. Recasting classic food combos in buddy comedies is a premise with real appetite appeal — and this gooey, good-natured opener is a grate place to start.”
“Anthropomorphized food citizens with expressive faces populate the delightful, digitally created scenes; half-page vignette illustrations with accompanying text appear throughout, keeping the pace brisk. Food dialogue, shown in speech bubbles, features many delectable puns.
VERDICT Hand this to fans of Jory John’s ‘Food Group’ series.”
— School Library Journal (Heidi Grange)
“Mac & Cheese will delight the budding punster in your family even more than a creamy bowl of you know what.
I can’t think of a single bit of cheesy wordplay left unuttered in this story. It’s not just great; it’s grated.”