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. I still love the artwork just as much, there’s a lot of feeling and expression in the character depiction.

Harold Klein, the 72-year-old art historian protagonist of this quirkily charming book, reflects at one point that "pornography has always been part of the visual arts. The classic funny story about a stubborn little badger with very particular tastes in food--now in the always-appealing 8x8 format! I'm not sure I have ever used the word "delightful" before in a review but here it applies, yes this was delightful and a good story for children and a fine book for adults to read to children. The illustrations are old school and include lots of texture as though things like pencils, charcoal, and chalks were used to create the illustrations.The illustrations are wonderful, with Frances eating her toast and jam and staring with no small level of concern at her soft-boiled egg. Through the usage and the form of song, improvisation, and lyrical choice, the character Frances also brings up questions of our relationship to food, our reckoning with the once-alive nature of what we consume, the anthropomorphizing of food as we juggle the need to nourish our bodies with other animals and plants, the reality of being part of a great ecosystem of living things, and our uncomfortable yet convenient and privileged place as the ones who decide (or have put ourselves in the place to decide? I just loved reading about all the yummy things Frances got to eat from her lunchbox at school, especially at the end! In addition to being a longtime fan of the Hobans, I was also a big fan of all the Frances books and this one is no exception.

When she finally tries new food she realizes how good it is and conquers her fear of trying new food. When her Mother gives her eggs for breakfast she chooses to eat her favourite food- bread and jam instead. 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.The classic story of little Frances's finicky palate, Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, illus. Expressive, pastel-colored drawings and a simple, repetitive text convey the story of Teddy, who longs to have a pet of his own.

Little M and I are working our way slowly but steadily though the Time Magazine’s Top 100 books for Children. Bread and Jam For Frances personifies a young female badger as a fussy eater who loves bread and jam.

A hard-boiled egg with salt, a thermos of milk, grapes, a tangerine and " a cup custard and a spoon to eat it with.