Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban

Do you have a child who is a picky eater? Or are you a picky eater? If so, you will probably relate to and laugh along with one of our favorite books, Bread and Jam for Frances. In this story, Frances, who is a badger child, prefers eating bread and jam for every meal that she doesn't like until her mother decides to serve it to her all of the time.

This lovely story (and series of Frances books) is based upon the author and illustrator's experiences with their four children, and they feel quite universal to me as a parent. I love Frances' parents' creativity, wisdom, and patience. I love Frances' personality, and most especially I love the little verses that she make us to sing out her thoughts and feelings, such as,

Poached eggs on toast, why do you shiver

With such a funny little quiver?

Frances reminds me of a child's perspective on life, and how nice it is, when you are a child, to have a mother who will pack you a lunch like Frances' mother did, when she decided that she was ready to branch out from bread and jam again. 

Peter Pan by Sir J. M. Barrie, art compiled by Cooper Edens (Chronicle Books)

This gorgeous edition of Peter Pan is truly a delight. I love the old art by some famous illustrators such as Arthur Rackham. The text is so charming, particularly to the parent who is reading it aloud. I love, for example, this portion from early on in the story:
Mrs. Darling first heard of Peter Pan when she was tidying up her children's minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning....
Above all, I must say that I love the feel of the author's evident love of children that is so prominent in the story--his appreciation of imagination, and the need for mothers and adventure and happy times. I don't know much about Sir Barrie, but I can imagine that he most have adored his children, if he had them!
If you love Peter Pan, I believe you will love another of my favorites, Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge. She, too, must love children as you feel it in her story.

Three best magazines

While we subscribe to a number of magazines, there are 3 that really make a difference in my life: The Friend, The New Era, and The Ensign. They are all advertising-free magazines whose subscriptions cost less than one of our subscriptions put together. I can get them in an number of languages, too.  I can download any of their pages and print them out for my use.

But what I like best is that the photos and illustrations aren't trying to get me to buy something; they aren't trying to get me to look a certain way. The articles don't have any agendas except to help me become a better person, mother, wife, citizen, and church member. There is very wise counsel in the articles. The stories are my favorite part. These magazines have indeed helped make my life better.

The Friend magazine is especially helpful to me as a parent. The other day I used a story called "Cora's Bad Day" to help one of my children understand that anger is a choice, and that Heavenly Father and prayer can help us to change our moods, becoming more emotionally resilient. (I'm glad she can get a head start on that one, since I'm still working on it!) 

I'm also really  thankful for The New Era since it talks to young people on their level, addressing the kinds of issues that you think about as a teenager. It's upbeat, well-designed, and smart. I count these magazines as some of my indispensable resources as a parent!