Lily at the Table

by Linda Heller

A reluctant eater transforms the food around her into a fantasy playground.

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

I was born in New York City and continue to live there. I received a B.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design and began my professional career as an animator. My film Album was shown at Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and at the Venice Biennale. I also worked on numerous TV commercials and television shows.

I received a 1996 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction and had an honor story in The Best American Short Stories 1991, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, won a Literal Latte Fiction Award in 1998 and has had stories in Boulevard, the Northwest Review, New Letters, the Alaska Quarterly Review, Quarter After Eight, Ascent and other publications. My stories have been selected for several anthologies.

I have also written and illustrated eleven children’s books. My books received the Parents Choice Award and the Bank Street Award among other honors. Today is the Birthday of the World was released by Dutton in April, 2009. The Castle on Hester Street was reissued in a special anniversary edition by Simon & Schuster in 2007 and is the only book in the forty year history of the Sidney Taylor Award to be honored twice.
I taught children’s book writing and illustrating at the Parsons School of Design and haven given writing and art workshops for children throughout the city.

Reviews

[Rachel Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid, I was obsessed with this book. I loved reading it aloud to my siblings and to myself, making up a new story each time. I loved to read and write from a very young age (and still do). This isn't necessarily a book for a kid who doesn't like to read; it's for a kid who loves to imagine! The illustrations were entrancing to my young eyes, especially because I loved to to cook/eat, and the idea of shrinking + everyday items becoming a playground was irresistible. I recently tracked down a used copy for my nieces, who are three and five years old.

[Kelsey Ruggirello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book without words. It has all pictures. It shows a girl who doesn't like dinner and wants all different things besides her dinner, she plays with her food and then at the end of the book she finally starts eating her dinner

[Deb Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork. As for the illustrated story... it was imaginative.