Folksy Fruits – Anthropomorphic Adventures in Opal Orchard

Folksy Fruits was part of T. Benjamin Faucett’s “Moon Queen” series, which included four titles, all published in 1924. The other three books are Frolicsome Flowers: They See the Wonderful “Rajah Rug,” Brainy Berries: A Night in Crystal Cave, and Venturous Vegetables at the “Frolic Grounds.”

I like that the cover seems to have been sneezed on

“‘I have s-t-e-w-e-d prunes and vanilla wafers,’ said Pauline Peach.”

“Zipp! Florence bounced into the air.”

“‘I’m stuck tight on this stalk!’ said Ben Banana.”

“They landed gently upon the velvety grass of opal orchard.”

See those other posts above for more information, but here is all you need to know:

Now, Tony had told the truth about his fruit. It was indeed the best in town, but had he known of the adventures that some of it was to have that very night he would have been the most excited Italian you ever saw. [An image of Tony is appropriately captioned, “You joka da me today, eh?”] Perhaps it was lucky that Tony didn’t know. He might not have been sleeping soundly in his little home just above the store when good fairy Moon Queen came down to entertain the fruits.

Now I’m thinkin’: it could mean you’re the fruit. And I’m the Moon Queen. And Mr. Tony here, he’s just the most excited Italian you ever saw. Or it could be you’re the Moon Queen and I’m the excited Italian and it’s the world that’s fruity. I’d like that. But that shit ain’t the truth. The truth is you’re the Frolicsome Flower. And I’m the Brainy Berry. But I’m tryin, Lucy Lemon. I’m tryin’ real hard to be the Venturous Vegetable.