We love children’s fiction here at Fork & Fiction. It’s not really a secret. Especially children’s fiction authored by this star (ahem). Recently I’ve been digging the Instagram accounts of people who are fellow kids books lovers, who have alerted me to some great new reads (e.g. When I was Small by Sara O’Leary) or impending new editions (the 150th anniversary edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Anna Rifle Bond!). Yes to Instagram! Yes to children’s fiction!
I have amassed such a large collection of children’s books, especially in the five and a bit years I have been a parent that recently someone walked into the room where I keep them (in a ginormous bookshelf) did a double take and exclaimed “Woah!! Have enough kids books?!” and started laughing hysterically. I don’t know why I am friends with this person. Who thinks there should be a limit on the number of kids books in a house? What breed of a person?! I scowl at such people, scowl I say.
Spurred on by his ridiculous words and howls of laughter I subsequently pored over the titles I currently own to remind myself of the value of every single one. Like a gardener studying her freshly bloomed roses. Sigh. And I did notice a pattern amongst my favourites. You guessed it, FOOD. No surprises there either. So today, to celebrate Children’s Fiction and having “far too much of it” (i.e. just enough and never too bloody much) I bring you a list of my essential foodie fiction favourites that you MUST own for under-fives and which are loveable for over-fives too. These aren’t optional, my friends, these are classics, these are compulsory. Even if you buy them someone else’s under-fives. Even if you already have “too many” (pfffffff. eye roll.) other kids books.
In no particular order…..
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
Somewhat controversial amongst those who don’t like to believe that people are nude under their clothes (Oh my goodness! Ew!) In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak features an illustration of a rudie-nudie kid falling out of his clothes and into dough and being baked into a cake. Utterly, perfectly weird, this is my favourite Sendak.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Few books appeal so timelessly to small children, who love to stick their fingers in the holes made by the caterpillar. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle teaches numbers, days and fruit and warns against overeating on a Saturday. Carle founded a Children’s Picture Book Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts as he believes ” Children’s picture book art is the introduction to art for young people ” which makes him one of my best, most favourite people I have never met.
Never Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child
Charlie and Lola are possibly the best siblings in modern children’s literature. Lola is fussy and stubborn, Charlie is wise and sweet and patient. The older brother you always wanted. I love the illustrations and Child’s knack of capturing the lovely, slightly tangled way that little kids speak in this book, Never Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child. I also love “moonsquirters” and will always eat them.
The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
A wild scheme to trap a wasp swarm with a gigantic jammy sammy, I LOVE The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord. With great rhymes and truly seventies illustrations, it’s no wonder this book has been in print for thirty years.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
It has been suggested to me that The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr is a smidge sexist (Mummy getting the supper, Daddy working and owning the beer) but that doesn’t stop it being crazy-charming. To me anyway. A tiger comes to the door and politely asks if he can come in for tea… Imagine!
Other foodie fiction for Littles you could (should) add to your collection:
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss
Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett
The Big Honey Hunt by Stan and Jan Berenstein
Dim Sum for Everyone by Grace Lin
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Gorgeous Instagram accounts that feature kids books:
With love,
Hannah x
In the night kitchen is just the most fun. I’m glad if made the list….”I’m no particular order” but still number 1!
Beautiful pictures and great reading suggestions – can’t wait until my 10 month old is ready for these books. Thanks also for the Instagram account recommendations, always looking for new accounts to follow!
Oh you are going to love it, Robyn. Reading to your babes is the very best ever! If you ever need more suggestions you have come to the right place 🙂 H x
I know, Ken, isn’t it great? Love that book. We sing the last page “And that’s why, thanks to Mickey, we have cake every morning!”
Always, always read to the little ones. I always read to my kids and I think it has helped them now as adults to love reading books. My daughter especially is an avid reader and finishes books quickly. Even my three adult boys (men) will pick up books to read. Maybe not as much as my daughter, but I think if they had never been read to and exposed to many, many books they would not be taking an interest in reading now. There are never too many books!
What a lovely post! And as for having too many children’s books…pffft! If there were ever a fire in my house and I had to choose between saving my books or my children’s books it would be the easiest decision of my life.
Never EVER Anne! H x
Still reeling from the idea of a fire burning my books, Sara… (Oh my goodness major panic attack just from the idea of it!) but you are so right. The kids books all the way. I have a 1960’s-ish copy of 101 Dalmatians with sketches of doggies all over the end papers and I think I might love it more than most things in my house. My daughter just asked yesterday if we still have the book (poor girl, Mummy always returning books to the library and all) and when I said yes she was visibly relieved. In the genes much?!?!
YES! I cannot go into a book store that has a kids section and not buy something. Saving them from a fire…absolutely. Can I add a few of the Beatrix Potter books to this list? Jeremy Fisher and Two Bad Mice. We are on a Jeremy Fisher kick right now (my fave) and the butterfly sandwich he eats just charms me up and down. I don’t know why! Maybe because somewhere in my distant past there was a Beatrix Potter cookbook with recipes for some of the food from the books? Now I need to look up what the butterfly sandwich was…