This little piggy had coq au vin

You can tell a lot about a culture by its nursery rhymes and lullabyes. After all, this is how children have been taught cultural norms and heritage for centuries. And it is clear from this very early beginning that French 'citoyens', no matter how tiny, are imbibed with the food culture that will surround them for the rest of their days.

It has amazes me as I bring up my children in France that almost every nursery rhyme has something to do with food. From the lyrics 'The neighbors have bread, but not us' in the French equivilent to 'Ring Around the Rosey', to the mentions of eating pate in the morning, making 'pigeon pie' or even the sung recipe for 'galette' (where the children shout out that you need butter for a good galette), food seems to make its way into every one of these culturally telling rhymes.

To enjoy these wonderful lullabyes and rhymes I suggest a book and CD called 'Les plus belles comptines anglais et francais'. It is a great collection of English children’s songs that are matched with their French counterparts. The songs are beautifully done, there is a book with translations and even all the movements (such as to ‘This Little Piggy’). My kids listen to this CD endlessly – and for one I don’t mind when they say ‘Play it again Mama’.

http://www.amazon.fr/belles-comptines-anglaises-livre-audio/dp/2278053140/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242298455&sr=8-5

See for yourself if the English aren't always singing about the rain and the French about food and kissing!