Minette's Feast

With Child's own writing as the source for a baker's dozen of apt quotes, this is as truthful an account as could be hoped for--while still being told from Julia Child's cat's point of view. Reich has a storyteller's instinct for entrancing incident and a poet's gift for sound and sensory detail. The roofs and markets of Paris and Julia's busy kitchen all spring to life in a pleasing palette in Bates's art.

Between this book's red-checked endpapers lies a delectable tale about Julia Child discovering her culinary calling in Paris. With Child's own writings as the source for a baker's dozen of apt quotes ("You are the butter to my bread," says husband Paul), this is as truthful an account as could be hoped for -- while still being told from the point of view of Paul and Julia's cat, Minette. Reich has a storyteller's instinct for entrancing incident and a poet's gift for sound and sensory detail. Minette smells "mayonnaise, hollandaise, cassoulets, cheese soufflés, and duck pâtés"; Julia "baked and blanched, blended and boiled...floured and flipped, pitted and plucked." Who knew cooking involved such a wealth of action verbs? Posing or pouncing, Minette is a vivacious presence in Bates's pencil and watercolor art, an adored pet lucky enough to share the fruits of Julia's labors. The roofs and markets of Paris and Julia's busy kitchen all spring to life in a pleasing palette keyed to both fresh food and tortoiseshell cat: chocolate-brown, buttery-yellow, and coppery-red are nicely countered by soft blues and lettuce-green hues. Julia is shown with her characteristic heft and sensible shoes; when she's with Paul, their mutual affection glows in every line. This book is a charmer to share aloud with young people who enjoy a well-paced story and with cat lovers and food lovers of any age. Notes and sources, an afterword summarizing Child's life, a glossary, and author's note are appended. joanna rudge long