Ann Giles, aka Bookwitch, has reviewed Findus, Food and Fun on her blog. Here is her review: thank you Ann.
I am going to have to eat sixty ice lollies. A mere two weeks ago I could have been spared this experience, as that is when the Resident IT Consultant was told in no uncertain terms (by me) that he’d have to get rid of his lolly stick collection (clean), since there was nothing sensible anyone could hope to use them for.
They would build you a little ice lolly stick house. That’s what. I have just read the new Findus, Food and Fun book about Pettson and Findus and what they do for each month of the year. In January you can build this lovely little house, as well as make a broom out of the dead Christmas tree. Unless you want to use it to stir your porridge. Ew.
The illustrations in this very useful and extremely inspiring book are by Sven Nordqvist, while the ideas are by Eva-Lena Larsson and Kennert Danielsson. If your child doesn’t pester you endlessly to make the things they read about in this book, I will eat those ice lollies. Or Pettson’s Christmas tree stirred porridge. No, perhaps not. There are limits.
It’s a very green and sensible book. Rather like the Swedes. But inspiring, nevertheless. And I have to admit that at some point in time I have probably made an awful lot of what’s in it.
There is sprouting and planting and harvesting and cooking/baking, making gifts for the little creatures that live under the floor (OK, I didn’t do that) and umpteen other ideas.
It is a little Swedish in places. That’s obviously good in many ways, except when it isn’t. Some things don’t make sense in other countries, and the marvellous Nathan Large who translated the words, clearly didn’t bat an eyelid over the cake that has to go in a crumb-lined springform pan. And, just maybe, it makes more sense to make rosehip soup to a tiny Swede who has been brought up on shop bought rosehip soup. It’s an acquired taste.
Making compost heaps and trying to grow stuff under the bed, it can be hard to tell if it’s Pettson, or Findus, who is the craziest. It’s not every cat that will feed mice. But their hearts are in the right place.
And so is the heart of this book. Use it all year round. Let me know when you’ve made the cake and I’ll call by.
