We All Scream for Ice Cream!: The Scoop on America's Favorite Dessert Review
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(More customer reviews)With this book, Lee Wardlaw has completed the great triumvirate of ice cream books. First there was Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla by Anne Cooper Funderburg, giving us the first really accurate, complete, and veryreadable history of ice cream published in the twentieth century. And thenthere was Frozen Desserts by Caroline Liddell and Robin Weir, the best andmost complete recipe book on ice cream written in the twentieth century.All that was lacking in the Ice Screamer's library was a good, readable,accurate book for children, and now, after having patiently waited untilthe new millenium and thanks to Lee Wardlaw, noted children's author, wehave that book. The library is complete, God is on his throne, all is rightwith the world, and the only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.Sowhat makes this book so good? Where to start.....well, just take a look atthe cover. You cannot resist picking up this book, and then, well, thenyou've had it. First, there is the readability. I started the book anddidn't stop until it was finished. Like I usually do with a good bowl ofhomemade ice cream, I devoured it too fast. So I had to read itagain...same thing, couldn't put it down. Immediately apparent in Lee'sstyle in all her books, and it is evident here as well, is that she doesn'ttalk "down" to children. The language is direct and simple wihout beingpatronizing; the style "speaks" to the reader casually yetmatter-of-factly, which of course means that adults flock to her books aseagerly as children do. Then there are the delightful illustrations bySandra Forrest. My personal favorite is the soda jerk on page 76. Andbesides these illustrations, each chapter begins with a great black andwhite photo of a classic ice cream scene, many are historic and rare. The book is complete. Chapters on the history of ice cream, the story ofcertain ice cream treats, and recipes are of course to be expected andthese are complete, concise and accurate. When fact tends to blur withfancy, Lee tells us so. When myth runs smack into history, Lee tells us so.But her facts are impeccable; accurate and concise. It is a very, very wellresearched book, yet so fun to read, every page turns with a smile or achuckle. And then, like the surprise bit of crunch in butterbrickle, there are the sidebars, adding tantalizing factoids and anecdotesjust to make us salivate for more. Mmmmm....Good! But the real charmto me is in the "extra" chapters. I didn't expect to see a chapter on sodafountains and soda jerks, but here it is! I didn't expect to see a chapteron cones and cone manufacturers, but surprise!, here it is! The storybehind some well known ice cream companies? Here it is! And just as a goodtopping makes a great sundae, take a look at the the chapter called The ManWith the Million Dollar Taste Buds. I've met this wild and crazy guy, andif anyone could do justice to him, Lee Wardlaw has done so. To beperfectly honest, I've known for nearly two years that this book would bepublished this year, and I've been eagerly awaiting its release with greatanticipation. I am happy to say that this book far exceeds all my greatestexpectations. Are there any faults to this book? Well, yes, there are;...two, in fact. First, I find that just like a bowl of my favorite icecream, it's finished before I am satisfied. But this is the same problem Ihave with any good book on ice cream; I just want it to go on, and on, andon, never really having to close the final cover. And second, it seems tobe classified as a children's book, and I suspect when it hits thebookshelves this summer, we'll find it in the children's section, but don'tlet it fool you. It is actually advertised as "Ages 8 and up"; especiallynotice the "and up"... that means it's for children of all ages. One of theuniquely endearing qualities of ice cream is that with every bite, itcontinually reminds us that inside we have always been, and will alwaysbe... children. The obvious conclusion is that this book is for anyone wholoves ice cream. So the question begs to be asked: Who in the world couldpossibly not enjoy it? I can't imagine.
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Product Description:
We eat it in cups or cones. We drink it in sodas or shakes. We like it slathered in hot fudge sauce, wallowing in whipped cream, or balancing atop a slice of pie. We love it all year round.Ice cream was once so rare and expensive that it was considered the dessert of kings. So, how did this treat for the elite become America's favorite sweet?
When did people begin eating ice cream in cones?What mysterious woman invented the ice cream freezer?What is the story behind the Eskimo Pie?Who is the ice cream man with the million-dollar tastebuds?
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