context in children's literature and other tasks

Mr. Jenner is taking a minor break from reading nothing but "Famous Five" books to Senor Onion. At least using the excuse, "we have run out" at the moment. A few days ago he began reading "Wind in the Willows" to him. All part of the English upbringing. It has left Senor Onion with many questions and a favorite one was when there was a mention of a smoking jacket and he wanted to know what a smoking jacket was. Mr. Jenner explained and this brought up more questions. "What is smoking?" And I realized that he hasn't really been around many people who have smoked. No one in our family smokes, you can't smoke in most public places anymore, and so on. It is so different from my childhood where nearly all the adults smoked (but eventually gave it up) and I remember when adults smoked in the restaurant my Father worked in. (and EVERYONE who worked in the restaurant smoked, because it's the service industry and you gotta get a release from the stress so you don't punch someone.)I recall witnessing long rambling conversations while the adults smoked. In some ways it freed up the kids to do what they wanted to. The adults were busy having a smoke and something to drink, and we could run around like feral children. Everyone smoked after mass at coffee hour. The blue haze with tang, donuts, and horrible coffee as a reward for getting through mass without biting someone's arm off because you were fasting. My childhood was one where I watched the gradual disappearance of smoking as a vast social/public ritual. People smoke in public but they have to do it to one side outdoors and it must be rationed as it is a rather expensive ritual. The dedicated chain-smoking adults of my childhood are no more. Either through quitting or cancer.
It became a little funny when Mr. Jenner told him what it was and mentioned it wasn't good for you. Senor Onion jumped to the idea that if you smoke and it isn't good for you, then someone must be MAKING you do it. A form of torture. He began to worry about what if someone made him smoke and so on. he had to be calmed to the idea that no one would make him smoke. I don't think Mr. Jenner explained the nuances of the appeal but it might be difficult to get that one across to a five year old. I did say that when the book was written they didn't realize how bad it was for someone and that adults thought it was something fun.

I am sure we will be having more conversations like this when we come to the Tintin books.