Orange marmalade and an adult who doesn't care.

September 17, 2006 11:43 AM

What is this children's book I read twenty years ago? Basic plot and scant specifics inside.

The story had to do with two children--brother and sister, if I remember right--living with a somewhat cantankerous older man (a grandfather? an uncle?). They'd tell him stories and he'd always respond with the same dismissive/indifferent statement. Then one night he had a crazy dream and in the morning he wanted to tell them about it. They listened to it and then zinged him with the same statement he was always giving them.

For his breakfast he liked orange marmalade on toast, and he (or the children?) at some point rode a giant paper airplane. If it was the children on it, then they were always telling him about their dreams, or their lives were more eventful than I remembered.

And that's all I can remember about it.

Various searches aren't turning up much, probably because that's not much to go on. Does anyone remember this book?

posted by Tuwa to media & arts (5 comments total)

Could Be Worse!
posted by wemayfreeze at 12:15 PM on September 17, 2006

Not an airplane, then.... That's the one, though; thanks.
posted by Tuwa at 12:49 PM on September 17, 2006

Did it have pictures of his bedroom which contained a rug and fireplace?
posted by lain at 1:02 PM on September 17, 2006

I don't remember, sorry. I did remember that cover when I saw it, though.

I'll take a look at it at the library tomorrow and let you know.
posted by Tuwa at 1:57 PM on September 17, 2006

lain: Rug, yes; fireplace, no.

Also: Grandpa flies on a paper airplane. Awesome.
posted by Tuwa at 3:20 PM on September 18, 2006