How to Eat Like a Child: And Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-up [Paperback]

Delia Ephron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 2001

Witty, wicked and wonderful, Delia Ephron's How to Eat Like a Child reveals and revisits the joys of childhood. It offers advice on food consumption - "Wave one French fry in air for emphasis while you talk, pretend to conduct orchestra". Sibling torture -" Did you know that Jello's alive?". Birthday behaviour - "Greet your guests with "What did you bring me?" and grab the presents out of their hands". Pet care and all other important childhood activities also included. A best seller, it is both universal and timeless.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Delia Ephron is the author of many books of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children, including her most recent novels, Hanging Up and Big City Eyes, She is also a screenwriter and producer. Her credits include Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and Michael. Her humor, essays, and commentary have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, the New York Times, Vogue, and Rosie. She lives in New York City with her husband, writer Jerome Kass.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (October 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060936754
• ISBN-13: 978-0060936754
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #470,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Way We Were!, December 17, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Eat Like a Child: And Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-up (Paperback)

Caution: Although this book might at first seem like it is made for children as one of the audiences, be aware that How to Eat Like a Child contains two instances of a vulgar four letter word beginning with "f."

How to Eat Like a Child would be a great gift to new parents . . . especially from their own parents!

This book has two appeals. First, to those who wish to remember their own youth. Second, for those who wish to remember what their children were like. In either case, you will find yourself feeling the situations in your body, in your mind, and in your emotions.

Ms. Ephron is a very good observer, and has a good memory for the way things work.

The title is actually just referring to one five-hundred word essay, that leads the book off. Ms. Ephron wrote this for The New York Times Magazine in 1977 and got a tremendous response, including an invitation to write more material. The result is this book which is filled with wit, wisdom, and love. I've captured a few brief excerpts to give you a flavor of how you will eat up the contents of this book:

Eating: "Cooked carrots: On way to mouth, drop in lap. Smuggle to garbage in napkin."

Watching television: "Your mother is calling you. Do not hear her . . . ."

Hanging up the telephone: "Are you still there?"

Playing: "After using your bed as a trampoline, transform your room into a giant spider web . . . ."

How to laugh: "Call a pizza parlor and send your teacher seven pizzas."

Caring for a pet dog: "Each day, procrastinate and complain until your mother finds it easier to feet it and walk it herself."

Birthday party guest: "If reminded, say thank you.
Go home.
Throw up."

School: "Tell your teacher for the second time this week, that you do not have your homework because the dog ate it."

Arranging to be excused from the dinner table: "Lean back until your chair rests precariously on its two back legs. Fall over."

Being sent to room: "Slam door."

How to torture sister: "Pretend to eat shaving cream . . . . Wanna try some?"

Ride in car: "Ask if you are almost there yet."

How to sleep: "Fall out of bed and don't wake up."

This book really deserves a sequel that focuses on how to be the parent of the child who is behaving like a child. I suspect that subject would be a lot funnier!

Think back. How would you behave if you were not constrained by so much socialization, guilt, and desire to please? Where would it be appropriate to adopt some of that wonderful freedom of childhood?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, so funny, timeless, ageless - great for kids, January 29, 2008

By 

W. Martin (Richmond, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Eat Like a Child: And Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-up (Paperback)

I got this book in the early 80s when I was about 10-12. My older sister and I read it, CRYING in hysterics. I think it was the first book EVER to make me do that. Snorting, sobbing laughter.

She and I quoted it for years afterward. ("Your mother is calling. ... Do not hear her. Do not hear her. Do not hear her.")

I have three kids now and think my middle one (7) is just ripe enough for this. I can't wait to share it with her. She's gonna LOVE it.

As far as this having the f-word in it (see other review), I grew up in a very conservative house (no cursing, EVER) and have absolutely NO recollection of there being "bad" words in this book.

I wouldn't hesitate for a MINUTE to share this hysterical book with children (ages 8 and up). It's not obscene or inappropriate. It's hysterically funny. If the f-word is in there, it's probably in there once or something and easily censored with a Sharpie by any concerned parent.

Delia Ephron is a goddess. This book is great and I'm ordering a new copy for a new generation.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to eat like a Child, too true to real life!, March 11, 2001

By 

Wendy Gallagher (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Eat Like a Child (Paperback)

My mom had this book when I was a kid, and I thought it was funny then as it portrayed my brother and I when we were kids. Now I have three kids of my own, and they think it's pretty funny too. Anybody who has, or works with children would really enjoy the humor in this book.