Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child

Illustrated by Jessie Hartland
In a starred review, Publishers Weekly raves, "Chef and TV personality Julia Child likely would have delighted in and hooted over this wide-ranging picture-book biography.... Readers young and old will devour this fete pour les yeux."

Follow Julia Child—chef, author, and television personality—from her childhood in Pasadena, California, to her life as a spy in WWII, to the cooking classes she took in Paris, to the publication of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, to the funny moments of being a chef on TV. This is a comprehensive and enchanting picture book biography, told in many panels and jam-packed with lively, humorous, and child-friendly details. Young chefs and Julia Child fans will exclaim, "ooooh la la," about this book, which is as energetic and eccentric as the chef herself.
JESSIE HARTLAND is the author of eight picture books for children, including her most recent, How the Sphinx Got to the Museum, which Booklist, in a starred review, called "exhaustive, dizzying, yet crystal clear [in] detail." Jessie Hartland is also a commercial artist whose work can be seen on ceramics and fabric, as well as in advertisments. An avid cook, Jessie traveled to Paris and the French countryside to research this book. Jessie divides her time between a house near the water on Long Island and a loft in lower Manhattan, New York. Learn more at jessiehartland.com.
  • WINNER
    National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Gold Award
Chicago Tribune, June 27, 2012:
"Hartland deftly portrays in both word and drawing the awkward grace, the passionate personality and the spunky gusto of her subject. At times, you can practically hear Julia's trademark trill leaping cheerily out of the pages.”

New York Times, June 15, 2012:
"...bursting with exuberant urban-naïf gouache paintings and a hand-lettered text that somehow manages to recount every second of Child’s life."

Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2012:
"A charming introduction to the woman and her career, told in cluttered-yet-delightful illustratinos and exuberant hand-lettered text."

Boston Globe, August 14, 2012:
"Author Jessie Hartland chronicles Child’s rise to fame in a unique way. The book has the look and feel of a scrapbook, with handwritten text and numerous doodles that make it a fun read."

Epicurious.com, July 13, 2012:
"Visually, it's just delightful; Hartland captures the boundless energy, the joie de vivre that I imagine Julia exuded in person. And just in time for Bastille Day, there's a crêpe recipe for you to try."

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, March 19, 2012:
“Chef and TV personality Julia Child likely would have delighted in and hooted over this wide-ranging picture-book biography…. Readers young and old will devour this fête pour les yeux.”

Starred Review, Booklist, July 1, 2012:
“...achieves a feel that is a perfect match for Child’s personality and cooking style: exuberant, messy, gangly, and charming."

Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2012:
"Lively tableaux deliver an affectionate tribute to this strong-minded woman…While these stories may be familiar to adult readers, they are here perfectly pitched to introduce the determined woman who became synonymous with French cooking in America.”

School Library Journal, May 2012:
"Books for young foodies are very popular, and this is one that any library embracing the trend should have...Hartland’s style makes for a quick but informative read that portrays Child as a fascinating, groundbreaking, but still grounded person. Children interested in food and cooking will get a lot out of the book."

About

In a starred review, Publishers Weekly raves, "Chef and TV personality Julia Child likely would have delighted in and hooted over this wide-ranging picture-book biography.... Readers young and old will devour this fete pour les yeux."

Follow Julia Child—chef, author, and television personality—from her childhood in Pasadena, California, to her life as a spy in WWII, to the cooking classes she took in Paris, to the publication of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, to the funny moments of being a chef on TV. This is a comprehensive and enchanting picture book biography, told in many panels and jam-packed with lively, humorous, and child-friendly details. Young chefs and Julia Child fans will exclaim, "ooooh la la," about this book, which is as energetic and eccentric as the chef herself.

Author

JESSIE HARTLAND is the author of eight picture books for children, including her most recent, How the Sphinx Got to the Museum, which Booklist, in a starred review, called "exhaustive, dizzying, yet crystal clear [in] detail." Jessie Hartland is also a commercial artist whose work can be seen on ceramics and fabric, as well as in advertisments. An avid cook, Jessie traveled to Paris and the French countryside to research this book. Jessie divides her time between a house near the water on Long Island and a loft in lower Manhattan, New York. Learn more at jessiehartland.com.

Awards

  • WINNER
    National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Gold Award

Praise

Chicago Tribune, June 27, 2012:
"Hartland deftly portrays in both word and drawing the awkward grace, the passionate personality and the spunky gusto of her subject. At times, you can practically hear Julia's trademark trill leaping cheerily out of the pages.”

New York Times, June 15, 2012:
"...bursting with exuberant urban-naïf gouache paintings and a hand-lettered text that somehow manages to recount every second of Child’s life."

Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2012:
"A charming introduction to the woman and her career, told in cluttered-yet-delightful illustratinos and exuberant hand-lettered text."

Boston Globe, August 14, 2012:
"Author Jessie Hartland chronicles Child’s rise to fame in a unique way. The book has the look and feel of a scrapbook, with handwritten text and numerous doodles that make it a fun read."

Epicurious.com, July 13, 2012:
"Visually, it's just delightful; Hartland captures the boundless energy, the joie de vivre that I imagine Julia exuded in person. And just in time for Bastille Day, there's a crêpe recipe for you to try."

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, March 19, 2012:
“Chef and TV personality Julia Child likely would have delighted in and hooted over this wide-ranging picture-book biography…. Readers young and old will devour this fête pour les yeux.”

Starred Review, Booklist, July 1, 2012:
“...achieves a feel that is a perfect match for Child’s personality and cooking style: exuberant, messy, gangly, and charming."

Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2012:
"Lively tableaux deliver an affectionate tribute to this strong-minded woman…While these stories may be familiar to adult readers, they are here perfectly pitched to introduce the determined woman who became synonymous with French cooking in America.”

School Library Journal, May 2012:
"Books for young foodies are very popular, and this is one that any library embracing the trend should have...Hartland’s style makes for a quick but informative read that portrays Child as a fascinating, groundbreaking, but still grounded person. Children interested in food and cooking will get a lot out of the book."

Books for Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month this February and beyond, we are highlighting essential fiction and nonfiction for students, teachers, and parents to share and discuss. Join Penguin Random House Education in celebrating the contributions of Black authors and illustrators by exploring the titles here: Black History – Middle School Black History – High School

Read more

2024 Middle and High School Collections

The Penguin Random House Education Middle School and High School Digital Collections feature outstanding fiction and nonfiction from the children’s, adult, DK, and Grupo Editorial divisions, as well as publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Peruse online or download these valuable resources to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: English Language Arts,

Read more

PRH Education High School Collections

All reading communities should contain protected time for the sake of reading. Independent reading practices emphasize the process of making meaning through reading, not an end product. The school culture (teachers, administration, etc.) should affirm this daily practice time as inherently important instructional time for all readers. (NCTE, 2019)   The Penguin Random House High

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more