itscheese.com home page

This is the perfect book to poke fun of anyone who loves cheese more than you do, which is probably why it was under the Christmas tree with my name on it this year.

Garrison Keillor, of "Prairie Home Companion" radio show fame, wrote the words to this charming children's book. The hero of the story, Wallace P. Flynn, loves cheese, much to the dismay of his family and anyone living nearby. Even the mailman had to use an oxygen tank to deliver the mail.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. The pictures were as fun to look at (probably more fun) than the story itself. The uniforms of the Cheese Police were particularly creative. The illustration of Easy Ed's Used Cheese Market, where some of the cheeses are twenty years old, was also one of my favorites. Wilsdorf also did a great job throughout the book at capturing the look of bewildered contempt on the faces of those looking at Wallace P. Flynn.

Though I liked the book, Keillor is no Doctor Suess, and the rhythm of his poetry doesn't always feel natural. But he gets it mostly right, and the book really is a fun read, for both kids and adults. Because of some of the difficult to read names of cheeses, some children may need help from adults in reading this book. (Some adults may need help as well.) Cheese lovers will enjoy Keillor's mention of several different cheeses (and will be mildly disappointed that he lists Velveeta among them).

This book is a must-have addition to any cheese lover able to laugh at him or herself.

Amazon.com has more reviews of The Old Man Who Loved Cheese on their website.