Introduction Blueberries for Sal was originally published in 1948, the fourth book of the eight that
Robert McCloskey would eventually write. It tells the story of Little Sal and her mother as they went about picking blueberries on Blueberry Hill, as well as Little Bear and his mother who were out eating berries on the same summer day.
McCloskey fell in love with Maine in the summer of 1946, when he visited for the first time. He and his wife bought a home on an island off the coast of Maine before the end of that same summer. In
Blueberries for Sal and so many of his other books, McCloskey’s art captured the homespun elegance of Maine, his beloved home, and made it real for hundreds of thousands of readers around the world. The characters of Little Sal and her mother are based on Robert McCloskey’s own Little Sal, his daughter Sally, and his wife, Peggy. A simple story accompanied by dark blue illustrations, it became a Caldecott Honoree and a beloved classic. Since then, it has touched generations of adults and children who love the
kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk of little berries in a mostly empty pail. In 2000 McCloskey was named a Living Legend by the U.S. Library of Congress, an honor he enjoyed for several years before his death in 2003.
We know Little Sal and her mother started canning their harvest once they got home, but there the story ends. This book can give you lots of sweeter ways to enjoy your own blueberries whenever you wish. Sip on a Berry Blue Smoothie or maybe enjoy a slice of Blueberry Upside-Down Cake as an afternoon snack. Bring a tray of Blueberry Maple Pecan Scones to share with friends or bake a batch of Moose Track Blondies for dessert. The recipes are simple and many of the steps are easy for little hands if you have helpers in the kitchen. Most of them work just as well with frozen berries as they do with fresh, and on a few occasions frozen is noted as the best option for the recipe. So no matter what time of year, you can enjoy these treats with the people you love.
Sprinkled throughout the recipes are illustrations from
Blueberries for Sal alongside new illustrations inspired by McCloskey’s distinctive art style. You’ll also find information about blueberries, about
Blueberries for Sal, and about Robert McCloskey’s legacy.
Sal and her mother bring their blueberries home to enjoy all winter long. Whether you spend your summers picking berries or just want to bake up a sweet treat with fruit from the freezer, you can enjoy those blueberries all year long, too.
Copyright © 2023 by Robert McCloskey. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
