Prycer Consulting

Some days seem to have recurring themes.  Today’s theme: children’s literature!

I have one of those page a day calendars on my desk at work.  After being out a few days, I was making it current and ran across this quote:

“Oh, I wish that God had not given me what I prayed for!  It was not so good as I thought.”  –Johanna Spyri, author of Heidi.

Yikes!  What happened to her personal life after her career took off?  Did too many people come knocking on her door?  Was there too much pressure to continue Heidi’s story?  A quick glance at wikipedia gives me no clues, and I’m thinking I may have to do some investigating into Spyri’s life (unless one of you knows!).  And reread Heidi for the first time in 20 years.

My roommate, being the fabulous person she is, sent me this New York Times article, “Little House in the Hood,” all about food in the Little House books.  What makes this article a bit different is that it’s a dad figuring out his son’s fascination with Little House.  He gains new respect for Wilder’s book simply because of the food descriptions.  And who are we to argue with that?  Vanity cakes, fried apples and onions, bird’s nest pudding, green pumpkin pudding.  Sigh.  Friend Wendy has even tried to eat like she’s in the Little House books.

I’ve been meaning to write an entire post about food, and one day I will.  But today is not that day.  But as a placeholder, what are some of your favorite foods from kidlit history?  As a kid, I was all about raspberry cordial and monkey face cookies and pickled limes.  Have you made anything inspired by a book?  Did it live up to your expectations?

Finally, the roommate also sent me a link to this website, featuring t-shirts of book covers.  Alas, none feature children’s books, but it’s still worth sharing.