A is for Absinthe: Childrens' book for bartenders' kids

My first favorite book was The Blueberry Pie Elf. In some ways it represented the adult I have become, because its titular character was a discriminating eater (or, if you prefer, a pie snob). He was not satisfied by cherry pie or apple pie; he wanted the dark, ripe fruit character that only blueberry pie could deliver. The Blueberry Pie Elf was an unabashed New World pie eater.

The fact that the elf was willing to clean a family's entire kitchen on spec in hopes of maybe getting a blueberry pie in the future, well, actually, freelance writing is kind of like that. Oops, too late for a spoiler alert. Dammit! Now what's left to enjoy when HBO does The Blueberry Pie Elf in 10 parts, preferably with torture and sexposition?

I don't know what HBO would do with Lara Nixon's book "A is for Absinthe." But for parents who work in the booze industry, this book is probably a better gift than the modern classic "Go The Fuck to Sleep." It's not funny, but on the plus side, it is actually designed to be read by your toddler.



Nixon lives in Austin, Texas, and is co-owner of a small company that makes bitters. "I was inspired to write this book through conversations with my peers in the cocktail world, many of whom are young parents," she said in a press release.

The drawings, by New Jersey food writer Casey Barber, are a strength: they're pretty and look like they were sketched with color pencils.

This is probably my favorite page, left to right continuous in the book. I apologize for the poor quality scans:

And who doesn't want their toddler to know that whisky can be made from wheat, corn, rye or barley? Or that Tequila is made from blue agave? Or how to use a jigger or a flask?

With any luck, you can get your kids excited about making your cocktails by the time they're ready for elementary school. Imagine this nice treat after a day at work: "Here mom, I made you this Aviation. We were out of Crème de Violette so I substituted a dash of elderflower liqueur."

After all, childrens' books are all about imagination. Order the book here.

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