Blueberries for Sal

I guess, in the 1940s, it was common to depict docile, obedient children in picture books.

Then Robert McCloskey had an idea. His "Sal"--a character who grew out of McCloskey's reflections on his own daughter--can't really control herself. She goes berry-picking, but she doesn't understand how anyone saves berries for the winter. She eats all her berries right away.

As Sal's appetite grows, Sal finds herself reaching into her *mother's* pail, and taking an enormous clump of berries. ("She really hadn't meant to....but each berry was so small....and so close to all the other berries....")

We last see Sal "helping" with the canning process: Sal's overalls are too loose, her hair flies in all directions, and she stands on a rickety chair, throwing little metal rings on the floor.

I think Sal is the literary "godmother" of Max (Sendak), Ramona, and the naughty mice in the works of Kevin Henkes (Lilly, Sheila Rae).

I'm happy to have the work that Robert McCloskey left behind!

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