Read On…

Leaflet from Grolier Club exhibit

Lucky me! I was among a very small group on a guided visit to the exhibit One Hundred Books Famous in Children’s Literature at The Grolier Club. The books, printed between 1600 and 2000, are deemed “famous” because they were popular in their day and have stood the test of time. Books are shown in their original language and in English–our guide was quick to explain the selections are not “the best books” but ones that have demonstrated literary merit and enormous, on-going popularity.

Robert Baden-Powell

As a result, Scouting for Boys, written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell, the organization’s founder, is there. Stuart Little is not because a decision was made to display only one book per author so E.B. White is represented by Charlotte’s Web.

The exhibition, (which you’ll probably miss as it closes February 7), is divided into categories: Fairy Tales & Fables; Faith; Learning; Nursery Rhymes; Poetry; Girls & Boys; Animals; Fantasy; Adventure: Novelties and Toys. The oldest book shown is Orbis Pictus, published in Nuremberg in 1658, which was used by children throughout Europe for centuries.

I read (or had read to me) about ninety-five percent of the titles on view and practically fell apart seeing The Little House, (not the one on the prairie–the book in which the city grows up around the house and she despairs until moved back to the country and re-inhabited by a family.)

I remember loving The Story of Ferdinand for the narrative and character of the flower-loving bull. Apparently it’s been re-interpreted as an anti-Fascist work but clearly not by kids. That very un-PC book, Little Black Sambo is in the show, opened to a page showing the tigers–we learned that displaying illustrations of people has lead to hate mail and  nasty threats. Here is a link to the glowing New York Times review of the show.

The Grolier Club, long may it wave, was founded in 1884 and devote itself to books and the graphic arts. Four free exhibitions are held each year–now that I’ve finally been to the Club, I look forward to returning.

Piglet with Winnie

One of my favorite literary characters from childhood is Winnie the Pooh, a Bear of Very Little Brain, with a huge fondness for honey. (He’s in the exhibition.) This recipe isn’t very Pooh-ish but includes honey and is even (more or less) healthy, You can substitute apple juice for bourbon if you don’t want kiddies mixed with alcohol.

Honey Roasted Carrots from Southern Cooking
2 pounds baby carrots with tops (just get small, real carrots, not those tiny things that are really big carrots cut small)
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 tablespoons bourbon
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon chicken broth or water
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

1. Place a small roasting pan in oven. Preheat oven and pan to 500°.
2. Cut tops from carrots, leaving 1 inch of greenery on each carrot.
3. Stir together olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter in preheated pan. Add carrots, salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Bake 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, melt remaining 2 Tbsp. butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallot; sauté 1 minute. Remove from heat, and stir in bourbon and next 2 ingredients. Return to heat, and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 minutes or until mixture is syrupy.
5. Drizzle syrup over carrots; toss to coat. Bake 5 to 7 more minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender. Transfer to a serving dish, and sprinkle with thyme.

You could sing “Tiddley Pom,” known to Pooh fans although it owes more to Disney than to A.A. Milne, Pooh’s author. Maybe better: Somewhere Over the Rainbow which although not in The Wizard of Oz (included in the exhibition) is at least a better song.