One of the most memorable characters from my own childhood has to be a lovable badger named Frances. In the Frances books by Russell Hoban, Frances learns to navigate the challenges that are common to childhood. She has strong opinions about everything from trying new foods to what it means to be a friend to how to navigate becoming a big sister.
Bread and Jam for Frances
Frances was a picky eater. She loved bread and jam. She felt safe eating bread and jam because she always knew what she was getting without any surprises. She did not want to eat eggs for breakfast. She traded her chicken-salad sandwich to Albert at lunch time. And she refused to eat her meat, potatoes, and string beans for dinner. All so that she could eat her favorite foods: bread and jam.
Frances made up little songs about the foods that were set before her; she also sang about the virtues of bread and jam. And she was happy. That is, she was happy until Mother suddenly stopped offering her anything but bread and jam for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. When all she is served is bread and jam, Frances begins to take note of what others around her are eating. Will Frances learn to try new foods?
A Baby Sister for Frances
Frances had begun to think that things around her house were not very good anymore. Her Mother was busy caring for her new baby sister named Gloria, and she did not have enough time to iron Frances’s favorite blue dress nor to buy raisins for the oatmeal. So Frances thought that she should run away, and she made a plan to do just that. After dinner, Frances packed her backpack with prunes, some cookies, and her favorite possessions. And then, with great courage, she does it; she runs away . . . taking refuge under the dining room table. Will Frances return to where she belongs?
A Birthday for Frances
Birthdays are significant days for families to celebrate. Once a year, you have an opportunity to say to one member of your family that they are special. But birthdays also pose a challenge for those who are not having the birthday. To Frances it seemed that “your birthday is always the one that is not now.” All of the plans and preparations for the birthday party were for Gloria and not for Frances. Frances feels a tug to participate by getting a present for Gloria, and she spends two whole allowances on buying a present. But then, Frances struggles with actually giving it to Gloria. What will Frances decide?
Best Friends for Frances
Frances and her sister Gloria and Albert and his friend Harold get all mixed up on the meaning of friendship. Frances excludes Gloria because she is too little. Albert excludes Frances because she doesn’t know how to catch snakes and frogs. Albert and Harold exclude Frances because she is a girl. All of these challenges leave everyone trying to exclude in return and working to form new alliances. Who will be the first to try to bridge the gap?
The Frances books by Russell Hoban are a series that you will return to again and again. From the simple illustrations to the relatable tales, Russell Hoban provides us with a memorable character in Frances.