The story itself is extremely realistic, as many children have refused to try new foods at one point in time. This book can help teach children the importance of variety and trying new things as even their most beloved treat can become stale and boring. Hurwitz, creator of the Michaels family--stars of Rip-Roaring Russell and Russell Sprouts --presents the irrepressible clan from a new perspective, that of four-year-old Elisa.

The illustrations are wonderful, with Frances eating her toast and jam and staring with no small level of concern at her soft-boiled egg. I know, it seems silly, but think about the way Russell Hoban chose his words, placed on them page, purposefully slashing sentences in half to add to the strong, declarative tone. Not knowing that Kate is on the Whole30 again, I have forced her to read a book where bread plays a major role.

As Kate points out, this is a perfect New Year’s Resolution book because in the story you are encouraged to try new things and break out of your comfort zone. Hoban describes Frances's classmate, Albert, eating his delicious, balanced, varied and interesting lunch bite by bite, as Frances wistfully looks on over her bread and jam. And then, in the course of things, Kate starts looking up what the USDA recommendations are for children, we consider the wackadoodle utensils of the Badger household, what exactly a lobster salad sandwich is, etc.

When Frances's mom starts not offering her anything else and starts only giving her bread and jam, Frances starts to become sad and realizes that she is getting tired of bread and jam and wants to try something new.She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. I love to read and hope to use my blog to share some of my most favourite titles and new discoveries. The only other contender that comes immediately to mind is Badger from The Wind in the Willows but how many American children can remember him off the tops of their heads? Faced with no alternative Frances comes to the conclusion that although she loves bread and jam she does not want to eat it at every meal.

in public with friends/colleagues/classmates and how food is a medium in which we mediate and experience different forms of closeness, distance, and intimacies. Expressive, pastel-colored drawings and a simple, repetitive text convey the story of Teddy, who longs to have a pet of his own. In the second Frances book, A Baby Sister for Frances, his wife, Lillian, took over the illustrating, using Mr. Bedtime for Frances, A baby sister for Frances, A birthday for Frances, Best Friends for Frances and A bargain for Frances. Even though there is no actual music I enjoyed making up little tunes for the various songs Frances sings all through Bread and Jam for Frances.The most recent book in Cohen's tales of a first-grade class finds the children preparing for Thanksgiving vacation. And I love the songs Frances sings to solidify her position on Jam sandwhiches "Jam for snack and jam for meals, I know how a jam jar jeels--FULL.