Midnight Feasts and Lashings of Ginger Beer

Food is everywhere in children's literature. From The Famous Five, who were constantly eating enormous amounts of food, to midnight feasts at St Clares and Hogwarts, squashed fly biscuits, and even food which comes to life, children's books luxuriate in lavish descriptions of meals, picnics and treats. Food is always delicious and written about with such enthusiasm that the reader is left wishing they could dive into the story and feast on the treats within. But why is British children's fiction so preoccupied with all this fictional feasting? The former Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen, among others, discusses the meaning of all this gluttony. The programme is presented by Sheila McClennon. Producer Cecile Wright.