Sour and Sweet

What a spiffing idea! Describe some of the scrummy meals enjoyed by children in books of ‘the golden age’, add some of the charming illustrations and provide recipes so the reader can share nostalgic treats with the family. A lot of people will enjoy Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer a lot but I was sadly disappointed. Given the range of children’s books available, the number selected from is very few and about 80% of those are by Enid Blyton. Then to lump Antonia Forest together with Angela Brazil and Anthony Buckeridge as an author of ‘dozens of school stories’ doesn’t show much familiarity with the genre. Worse though, for me, is the authorial tone; I don’t like to feel patronized.

(  Here are some opportunities I feel the author has missed.  )