An absolutely charming tale of a young badger named Frances (there are several in this series, all simply adorable) who is a VERY picky eater. She doesn't like the soft-boiled eggs her mother cooks for her breakfast. She trades away the chicken salad sandwich she's taken to school for her lunch. The cutlets served for dinner just won't do...all Frances wants is bread with jam, so her parents indulge her. Bread and jam for breakfast, lunch, supper, even snacks. Soon she begins to realize that there is indeed such a thing as too much of a good thing, but her parents tell her that she's made her bed (or rather her bread, with lots of jam) and now she must sleep in it. She shortly starts thinking those soft-boiled eggs might not be so bad and pleads (successfully) to go back on a balanced diet. Although presenting a definite lesson for children, the style is non-judgmental and sympathetic, and the illustrations are wonderful. Frances also makes up little songs she sings to herself that both kids and grown-ups will find themselves humming along in their heads. I only recently learned, by the way, that the Russell Hoban who has written these sweet, funny little children's stories is the same one who wrote the cult classic 'Ridley Walker'.

Thank you so much Heysquid for sending this book for me :)

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