Literary friends

Winnie the Pooh or Anne of Green Gables fan? 10 children’s books recalled

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Let’s travel back in time, all the way to our childhoods. Can you remember that magical time when playtime was the only thing that mattered? Those wonderful, countless hours spent playing and daydreaming with our friends? Still, we’d like to focus on a different type of memory: those unforgettable bedtime stories our loved ones used to read to us. With that in mind, we’ve decided to pay tribute to 10 of our favorite characters from children's books. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to reconnect with your inner child and thank your favorite characters for all the fun times shared. Enjoy!

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In the 1920s, English author A. A. Milne took inspiration from his son Christopher Robin’s toys to create what is perhaps the world’s most famous teddy bear. Pooh first appeared in the 1926 book aptly titled Winnie-the-Pooh, which was followed in 1928 by The House at Pooh Corner.

What’s perhaps most endearing about Pooh and his friends is that they truly felt like teddy bears come to life: not only were they cuddly and adorable, but they also got into all sorts of adventures with the fictionalized version of Christopher Robin.

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Leave it to Dr. Seuss to create such a wonderfully strange character! The Cat in the Hat, first featured in the 1957 book of the same name, is not what you would call a reliable companion. After all, he wreaks havoc in the protagonists' house, to the dismay of their tidy and orderly goldfish.

However, when you think about it, the Cat shows up at the exact moment: on a cold and rainy day, when the children are bored and alone. In that sense, this wacky character manages to both entertain the children and us, the readers, at the same time.

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We wish we could focus only on pleasant characters, but unfortunately, it's time for the Grinch to show up! This green creature is probably Dr. Seuss’ most famous character, made iconic by a legendary 1966 Christmas special featuring the voice of Boris Karloff. While the Grinch is definitively not a nice guy at the start of the story, he (literally) has a change of heart by the end and becomes the lovely character he was always meant to be.

By the way, did you know how the Grinch got his famous green fur? In the original Dr. Seuss story, the character was depicted as white, but by the time the TV special was being produced, the animators needed to give the Grinch a color. Director Chuck Jones chose this shade of green from a (rather ugly) car he was renting at the time.

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Like many books in this article, it might be a tad demeaning to consider Anne of Green Gables merely a children’s book. Published in 1908, this novel is suitable for readers of all ages. That said, entire generations of children and teenagers have cherished the adventures and dreams of Anne Shirley, the redheaded 11-year-old created by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

One of the most interesting aspects of this character is that she seemed to grow alongside her readers. Anne’s life is told from her childhood up to her final years throughout the series of novels. Regardless, she’ll always be that sweet, freckled girl in the eyes of her beloved readers.

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Author Eric Carle proved that it doesn’t take much to create an endearing character: You just need a small caterpillar with a large appetite. Carle’s book tells the story of "a tiny and very hungry caterpillar," from its early days to its transformation into a butterfly.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is fondly remembered not only for its amazing illustrations but also for its simple yet catchy prose. Not only was it a huge bestseller at the time of its publication in the late '60s, but it is still recommended by bookstores all over the world.

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Winnie the Pooh is not the only teddy bear to make it to this list! Written and illustrated by Don Freeman in 1968, Corduroy tells the delightful story of a small bear named Corduroy and the adventures he has in his search for his missing button. In the end, he finds something better: a friend named Lisa, who adopts Corduroy and takes him home.

Over 50 years after its publication, this book is still considered one of the best children's books of all time. Teachers highly recommend Corduroy since it teaches kids about friendship while also taking place in an everyday setting.

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Thanks to its legendary 1939 film adaptation, people tend to forget that The Wizard of Oz was first a groundbreaking children’s novel. In that sense, while Judy Garland will forever be the quintessential Dorothy Gale, we should take some time to honor the character behind such an iconic role.

In Frank L. Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is depicted as a sweet, caring, and brave girl determined to not only return home to Kansas but also help her friends navigate the fantastical yet daunting Land of Oz.

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Lions understandably have a royal aura: Not only have they been featured on the coats of arms of many royal families, but they have also been portrayed as kings in films and literature. However, few fictional lions have shown the warmth, nobility, and leadership of Aslan, the powerful King of Beasts from C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series.

In all his book appearances, Aslan has been a guiding force and a symbol of good, usually leading the human characters toward a happy ending. Perhaps most famously, Aslan helps the Pevensie siblings fight the White Witch’s rule over Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

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British author Roald Dahl had the genius idea of taking something as universally loved by children as candy and making it even more whimsical. The 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory took us on a tour through Willy Wonka’s delightfully weird factory, showing us all the amazing inventions that came from the mind of this eccentric chocolatier.

While definitely a trickster, Wonka is also an extremely warm and caring character, eventually passing on his love for candy to the young Charlie Bucket. We couldn’t end this entry without paying tribute to what’s perhaps the most endearing film adaptation of this character: Gene Wilder’s portrayal of Wonka in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

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We’ll end this article with a book that managed to turn monsters into some of the most beloved characters in history. Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of a mischievous young boy named Max, who finds himself on an island inhabited by monsters known as the "Wild Things."

Thanks to its incredible illustrations, this book taught both children and adults how to find beauty in things that were previously overlooked. While at times intimidating, Sendak’s Wild Things are still lovely creatures who have charmed generations of children in the 60 years since its publication.

Snack travel

Where in the world is my lunch? 10 foods named after places!

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We all love hamburgers, and wieners, but have you ever stopped and wondered how some of your favorite foods got their names? Many of the dishes we enjoy today are named after the places they came from or through some historical twist of fate. We’ll call these "food toponyms" because they tell us about the food itself, and the regions, cities, and people that helped shape its history. Let’s take a flavorful trip around the globe, exploring how 10 famous foods got their geographic names!

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You might think of hamburgers as the ultimate American meal, and the immediate picture is that of a juicy meal sizzling on the grill. But their name comes from the German city of Hamburg.

The term hamburger originally referred to a "hamburger steak," which was a minced beef dish that sailors from Hamburg loved. When German immigrants arrived in America in the 19th century, they brought this treat with them.

But something so delicious couldn’t stop there: Over time, it evolved into the sandwich we know and love today, losing the steak and gaining a bun. Despite the evolution of the treat itself, the name stuck. Today, it’s hard to imagine a barbecue without them, right?

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If they are the same word, they are probably related, don’t you think? But is thisone of those times when language is trying to play a trick on us? Actually no, the bird you feast on every Thanksgiving is named after Turkey the country.

As the story goes, back in the 1500s, European merchants traded guinea fowls, which they imported through Turkish traders. Because of who imported them, the birds were known as "Turkey fowl" or simply "turkey."

So, where is the mistake? When European settlers in America encountered the wild bird we now call a turkey, they mistook it for the same bird. They eventually saw the differences, but the name had already stuck!

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To the eye, scallions don’t say much. Scallions, these simple green onions, are in fact really tasty. But we’re not here for the taste, we’re here for the story behind them!

The term scallion comes from the ancient port city of Ascalon, now part of modern Israel. The Greeks and Romans named these flavorful little onions after the city where they believed they originated.

Today, they are no longer exclusively tied to this region in the Mediterranean, but the name stayed with the vegetable. And even if they are not the first choice for amateurs, they are a great addition to some meals.

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Have you ever been to Vienna? Do you wish you could travel there for a much-deserved holiday? Try a wiener and you’ll be enjoying a piece of the city. Wiener is actually short for "wienerwurst," composed of two words that translate to "Viennese sausage" in German.

The name comes from Vienna, the capital of Austria, where this type of sausage was very popular. However, when the wiener made its way to the country, it evolved into our praised hot dog. And of course, each state, and each city, found new ways to make their own version of it!

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Cantaloupes today are one the juiciest summer snacks, but did you know they were first linked to royalty? Or at least that’s one theory.

This fruit gets its name from the town of Cantalupo, near Rome, where Pope Paul V reportedly cultivated the fruit in his papal estate.

However, this is not the only story behind it: Some say the name could also come from the French village of Cantaloup in Languedoc, which had its own connection to the fruit.

Regardless of which story we choose to believe, cantaloupes were a European sensation when they first appeared. Today, no summer goes by without thousands enjoying a delicious piece of cantaloupe!

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Maybe you didn’t believe us the first time, but in America, each city you visit has its own version of a hot dog. And Coney dogs are just one of those!

Coney dogs are beloved in places like Detroit, but their name is pure New York. Specifically, they’re named after Coney Island, the famous amusement park destination.

However, the hot dog slathered in chili sauce is thought to have originated with Greek immigrants who settled in Michigan in the early 20th century. Why the name "Coney"? Most likely, they named their creation after the popular hot dogs sold at Coney Island as a way to attract customers.

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We know these are not everyone’s favorites: Some love them, and some hate them. But nobody can deny that tiny as they are, they are packed with flavor. Which team are you on?

In any case, sardines made it to this list because they are named after the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. This fish was once found in abundance in the waters surrounding the island, making it a natural hub for sardine fishing. The name sardine soon became synonymous with these small, oily fish, no matter where they were caught.

Today, you’ll find canned sardines from all over the world, but the name keeps the link to their Mediterranean roots.

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Our next stop is an ancient place: Greece. Not to be mistaken with grapes, although they are sold as raisins too, currants are seedless fruits that grow on shrubs. Now, what is their connection to Greece?

Well, the name comes from the phrase raysons of Coraunte which translates to "raisins of Corinth." Corinth was a port city in Greece, where they were exported from.

As with many other foods, and thanks to many advances, currants now come from many places, and one of them is California.

From California to your house, but it takes you straight to Greece. Quite an adventure!

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Just reading the title is enough: Few things are so mouthwatering as buffalo wings. They had to be included in the article!

Buffalo wings are named not after the animal, but after the city of Buffalo, New York. They were first made in the 1960s at the Anchor Bar, where the owner cooked up some chicken wings in a tangy hot sauce. Tressa Bellisimo was her name and we love her!

The spicy snack became an instant hit. They were so popular that they were featured in a story in the New Yorker many years after they were created. By that time, the wings were already spreading across the country. The dish has since become a staple of American cuisine, especially during football season. Despite their widespread popularity, the wings always carry the name of the city where they were born and they do so proudly!

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Baloney has a birthplace, and that is Bologna, in Italy. The popular deli meat traces its roots to mortadella, a finely ground pork sausage with chunks of fat, first made in the Italian city.

When mortadella crossed the ocean and made it to America, it was re-invented in more ways than one, each more American than the other. The ingredients became a mix of chicken, turkey, beef, or pork, often the extra bits.

What about calling something "baloney" to mean nonsense? Well, the credit goes to Alfred E. Smith, New York’s 42nd governor, who used it to criticize President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration. Just like the treat, the phrase stuck!