Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child by Jessie Hartland

Did you know Julia Child wore size 12 shoes? Did you know she was a spy for the USA during World War Two? Did you know her now legendary cookbook, The Art of French Cooking, was rejected by publishers many times before it was finally printed? Julia Child is well known for her cooking prowess and signature cheerful voice, but there is so much more to the chef than her writing and television career. This book does a wonderful job of presenting the life of a colorful woman in a way that is fun, easy to digest for young audiences, and inspirational.

The illustrations are structured in a mix of comic strip and collage that create a bouncy and busy element to the story. I loved all of the little side conversations that this style created. In a world of instant celebrity, I feel like Julia Child is a perfect person for young readers to see. She chose to stick with cooking even when there were obstacles. Language barriers, sexism, difficult publishing houses didn't stop Julia from doing what she loved. She defeated each obstacle all while maintaining that marvelous joie de vivre.

The creator of this must-have for Julia Child fans of all ages is Jessie Hartland, is an artist and illustrator who has written several other children's books including her latest work, a graphic novel about Steve Jobs that I can't wait to get my hands on. You can see more of her work and purchase from her Etsy shop at www.jessiehartland.com.