Comments on: What Children’s Books Taught Us About Food

By: Alicia

Alicia — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:56:27 +0000

Paddington Bear loves marmalade so much that it is the only thing that he packs in his suitcase. I’m not sure what this signifies–other than to keep one’s prize possession close bu–but it definitely made me curious about marmalade and is one of the only aspects of the books that I can remember.

In some of the books in the Nancy Drew series, Nancy receives sleuthing help from her two cousins, George and Bess. While George is athletic girl, Bess is always described as “plump” and, if I remember correctly, enjoyed eating ice cream sundaes. Moral of the story: you are what you eat and your food defines you, quite literally.

By: Delicious Moments on Film: Julie and Julia, Annie Hall, Big Night and More... | Food & Think

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:12:05 +0000

[...] but I’ll hand it over to you readers (who proved very creative with your contributions to the food lessons in children’s books comments). What are your favorite movie food moments? Posted By: Lisa Bramen — Food in [...]

By: Heather L.

Heather L. — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:10:14 +0000

Farmer Boy — and why do I love this book? Because every chapter contains long and vivid descriptions of Almanzo’s groaning dining room table. I wonder if they really ate that much?

By: Melanie

Melanie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:26:36 +0000

Jane Thayer’s The Blueberry Pie Elf — saying please and thank you may just get you more pie!

By: LaurieA-B

LaurieA-B — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:59:06 +0000

Betsy, Tacy, and Tib made Everything Pudding. Lesson learned: mixing delicious ingredients together does not guarantee a tasty result.

By: Judy Hecht

Judy Hecht — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:16:31 +0000

Raggedy Ann and Andy had bubbling soda fountains and cookie trees…the “bad” people always turned out to have just been misunderstood and when things cleared up they had ice cream sodas, or some other sweet treat, always!

By: Mrs. Larkin

Mrs. Larkin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:36:53 +0000

Don’t forget: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

By: WilliamB

WilliamB — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:41:40 +0000

I always thought the food lesson of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” was if you eat too much rich food you feel ill.

The lesson of the “Little House” books (especially the early ones) is that getting food takes a lot of hard work.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:09:37 +0000

Strega Nona! A memorable pasta flood and Big Anthony has to eat his mistake.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 05:08:50 +0000

I was in seventh grade when I read Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. I will never forget how the people “grok” the dead in that strange land.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:53:58 +0000

I always remember the descriptions of Christmas treats in the Little House and it reminds me how spoiled and overindulged we are today. I always wanted to taste the sugar candies Wilder described.

By: Susie

Susie — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:14:15 +0000

Bread and Jam for Frances! The most fabulous book for picky eaters. Lesson: Being picky might mean you are missing out on some good stuff.

How to Eat Fried Worms. Boy is dared to eat a worm a day for a month. Lesson: If you try a food often enough, you just might learn to like it.

By: cristie

cristie — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:25:08 +0000

Winnie-the-Pooh stories by A.A. Milne contain cryptic lessons about food. When Tigger’s favorite breakfast turns out to be Roo’s medicine, we learn that one kangaroo’s poison is another tiger’s tonic. And when Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit’s doorway after eating too much honey, and Rabbit hangs dish towels on Pooh’s legs, we learn that regardless of the situation one can always make oneself useful.

By: Orr Shtuhl

Orr Shtuhl — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:40:17 +0000

“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” taught me how to play with my food, a talent that should not be underestimated. It also taught me that pancakes are more delicious when lifted via helicopter.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:11:20 +0000

In The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Turkish Delight figures into Edmund’s moral downfall. I’ve never had the pleasure of trying the stuff, but I’ve always been curious about what it tastes like after reading this book.