Once Upon a Mealtime

The podcast explores the significant role of food in children's literature, questioning why it's such a prevalent theme. It highlights how food can represent comfort, temptation, or even fear, citing examples such as the Turkish delight in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and the threat of being eaten in "Peter Rabbit." Michael Rosen discusses how food in stories can evoke both gluttony and the terror of being consumed. Authors Sue Hendra and Rob Biddulph emphasize food's relatability for children, making books more accessible. The discussion also touches on the longing for togetherness and tradition that food represents in books, even amidst a modern junk food culture, with Enid Blyton's picnics and St. Clair's midnight feasts serving as prime examples.