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Emily Jenkins
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A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat Hardcover – Picture Book, January 27, 2015

by Emily Jenkins (Author), Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 185 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
See all formats and editions
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A New York Times Best Illustrated Book

From highly acclaimed author Jenkins and Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator Blackall comes a fascinating picture book in which four families, in four different cities, over four centuries, make the same delicious dessert: blackberry fool. This richly detailed book ingeniously shows how food, technology, and even families have changed throughout American history.

In 1710, a girl and her mother in Lyme, England, prepare a blackberry fool, picking wild blackberries and beating cream from their cow with a bundle of twigs. The same dessert is prepared by an enslaved girl and her mother in 1810 in Charleston, South Carolina; by a mother and daughter in 1910 in Boston; and finally by a boy and his father in present-day San Diego.

Kids and parents alike will delight in discovering the differences in daily life over the course of four centuries.

Includes a recipe for blackberry fool and notes from the author and illustrator about their research.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    44 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    AD700L
  6. Dimensions
    11.94 x 0.43 x 9.81 inches
  7. Publisher
    Schwartz & Wade
  8. Publication date
    January 27, 2015
  9. ISBN-10
    0375868321
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0375868320
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“There is no other word but delicious.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“More than mere confection, A Fine Dessert is a rich and satisfying journey across four centuries…simply delectable.”
—School Library Journal, starred review

“A delicious book about a delicious treat.”
—Booklist, starred review

"This is classic Jenkins in its seemingly casual, observation-rich text; the folkloric structure of the process makes the prose rhythmic and readable, while the changing settings mark the significant historical and industrial shifts over the centuries."
—Bulletin, starred review
 

About the Author

EMILY JENKINS has written many highly acclaimed books for children, including Water in the Park, a Booklist Editors' Choice and a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book; Lemonade in Winter, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year; and two Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Books: Five Creatures and That New Animal. She is also the author of the popular Toys trilogy: Toys Go Out, Toy Dance Party, and Toys Come Home. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit the author at emilyjenkins.com.
 
SOPHIE BLACKALL received the Caldecott Medal for Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick. She is the illustrator of The Mighty Lalouche by Matthew Olshan, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; Edwin Speaks Up by April Stevens, a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year; and Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges, an Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award winner. She has also illustrated the Mr. and Mrs. Bunny series by Polly Horvath and the bestselling Ivy and Bean series by Annie Barrows. A native of Australia, she lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at sophieblackall.com, where she has regularly posted about the process of making this book.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Schwartz & Wade (January 27, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 44 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375868321
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375868320
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD700L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.94 x 0.43 x 9.81 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 185 ratings

About the author

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Emily Jenkins

Emily Jenkins

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I write stories for children, including Toys Go Out, All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah, Upside-Down Magic, Brave Red Smart Frog, and Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School.

www.emilyjenkins.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
185 global ratings
Making blackberry fool with granddaughters
5 Stars
Making blackberry fool with granddaughters
My wife bought two copies, for two sets of granddaughters. After reading it with one set, aged 3 and 6, she helped them make the dessert the 21st century way, though she would use less sugar. The combination of reading and doing made a big impression on the girls. They noticed the things that were the same (Did the black horse mean that all the families were related somehow? Or maybe they'd each acquired the horse accidentally, in a flea market, without knowing anything about its previous owners) and the things that were different (the older girl explained to her sister that the 19th century mother and daughter had had to eat their dessert in the closet because they were slaves). When they got to the 21st century dinner party, they tried to figure out the domestic and genealogical relationships among the guests, and did not fail to notice the firefly.
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Top reviews from the United States

Jerry Flack
5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant Picture Book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
Sophie Blackall is the best artist (and often author) working in children's literature today. Her drawings are magnificent and a joy to view. She has already won two Caldecott Medals and she should have won a third gold medal for "Farmhouse" in 2023. She is a superb artist, story teller, and historical researcher. "A Fine Dessert" is a simple yet very valuable history and sociology lesson of English-speaking families across 400-years in both England and the USA. Even in books such as "Finding Winnie" that have been authored by others, Blackall's illustrator notes standout and are very educational, inspiring, and a delight to read. I was familiar with "Winnie" and "Hello Lighthouse" before I even discovered the brilliance and joy of "A Fine Dessert." A word to the wise. Search Amazon and other outlets for further books by Blackall. She is a marvel!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
A Fine Dessert
Emily Jenkins
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Blackberry Fool, a dessert with history, brings four families together in a special way. Readers get to see how preparing this treat evolves as we travel through four centuries around the world. A mother and child milk their cow in England. An African-American slave and her daughter pick berries in their master’s garden. A stay-at-home mother and her two children beat their cream with rotary beaters. Then finally a father and son use a food processor for their berries in the 21st century. But who gets to eat the delicious delight once it is prepared? Jenkins creates an incredible timeline that teaches readers how families have lived in the past and how they live in the present. It’s a multicultural tale that shows how technology has affected us in many ways. The recipe included in the back matter reminds children to cook with an adult and to never ever forget to lick the bowl! Blackall’s use of blackberry juice and Chinese ink to complete her drawings takes readers on a voyage throughout each cook’s journey. The watercolor illustrations are relatable and detailed, making you feel a part of each story. The clothing, home decorations, and life styles that Blackall portrayed take the readers back in time to get a true feeling of that time period. Children will relish the beautiful landscapes and the end of each family’s story. Perhaps readers will be inspired to bake a fine dessert of your own after reading this delectable tale!
BIBLIO: 2015, Schwartz & Wade Books/ Random House Children’s Books, Ages 4 to 8, $10.99
REVIEWER: Hannah Balzer
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 0375868321
ISBN: 978-0375868320
2 people found this helpful
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A. Bailey
5.0 out of 5 stars Racist? Really!?
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is one of our favorite children's books (and we own hundreds). We checked this out from the library so many times I finally decided to buy it. Imagine my surprise to come on here and see that this book has so many critical reviews (many, I noticed, from people who have never left a review before... hmmm) claiming this book to be racist.

Maybe it's because we own several other wonderful children's books that cover the topic of racism, especially in the South in America (where we live) such as  Who Owns the Sun? , Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , The Story Of Ruby Bridges: Special Anniversary Edition , and  Follow the Drinking Gourd (Dragonfly Books)  among others ....

But for us this book sparked many interesting discussions: (Why is the mother and daughter having to serve them but not getting to eat? Why do they have to hide in the cupboard to lick the bowl?) None of them "glossing over" the pained reality of racism as part of our history.

Further the author and illustrator both address this in the back of the book.

From the author:
"This story includes characters who are slaves, even though there is by no means space to explore the topic of slavery fully. I wanted to represent American life in 1810 without ignoring that part of our history. I wrote about people finding joy in craftsmanship and dessert even within the lives of great hardship and injustice--because finding joy shows something powerful about the human spirit. Slavery is a difficult truth. At the end of the book, children can see a hopeful, inclusive community."

From the illustrator:
"Some questions were more difficult to answer: How did the slave girl feel, waiting on the family in 1810? And how did the other girl, roughly the same age, feel being waited on?"*

*There are definitely some uncomfortable expressions on this illustration in the book. The young white girl looks very squeamish as the girl her age is serving her. The mother serving looks somewhat uncomfortable as well.

All of that to say, I think this is a lovely book that covers many aspects of American history. I'm glad it brought up slavery. I'm also glad that is showed a mother and her daughter overcoming despite an overwhelmingly horrible situation. I don't believe slavery or racism has been glossed over at all.

And the last page, showing families of all different types and races coming together over a meal, everyone participating in preparing the meal (including men) certainly is a "hopeful" picture as the author suggested.
75 people found this helpful
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Kristin Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2023
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It’s adorable and I always love Sophie’s illustrations. Highly recommend
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Bran Mak Sworn
4.0 out of 5 stars Don't believe the SJW's
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
This is a cute children's book that shows a transition through history. People today look at the bad things that happened in the past and automatically assume that when you talk about it you're bad as well. The Author herself is a liberal and talks about this at the end of the book.

It's a good book. Buy it if nothing else to shut down people who cant stand learning history.
10 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Historically accurate account of a simple dessert: a connection of generations.
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
I love Emily Jenkins' and Sophie Blackall's work: it celebrates family connections. I am irritated at the censorship of this work: the accurate illustrations do not degrade, but spark a historical conversation with a young child. I would tell its critics that it is never wise to rewrite history to cater to a current cause. To embrace a cause, it is always necessary to know the causes. This is a gentle teaching, such as what is necessary for early childhood modeling of constructivism.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Jennifer Cawley Caruso
5.0 out of 5 stars ... and a gentle and well told series of vignettes nicely connected by the dish "blackberry fool"
Reviewed in Canada on April 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book contains lovely illustrations and a gentle and well told series of vignettes nicely connected by the dish "blackberry fool".
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