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(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Katy Wu.
Clickard's enthusiastic rhyming verse and Wu's inviting digital illustrations introduce Chinese American chef Joyce Chen, who helped popularize Northern Chinese cooking in the U.S. Beginning with her early life in China and 1949 emigration to Massachusetts, the book then describes how Chen's first restaurant led her to other successful enterprises, including a cookbook and TV show. A dumpling recipe is appended. Timeline. Bib., glos.
(3)
K-3
This catchy title relates Ruth Wakefield's successful career as a baker and restaurateur as well as the lore surrounding how exactly her invention of the chocolate chip cookie came about; the three speculated versions of the cookies' creation make for an interesting tale. Ford's bright, cartoony illustrations' vintage aesthetic brings out the Depression-era setting. An author's note and the original recipe are appended. Bib.
32 pp.
| ABDO
| September, 2015
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-62403-820-4$18.95
(4)
4-6
Checkerboard Library: Reality TV Titans series.
These biographies cover the personal and professional lives of six reality-TV stars, with information ranging from the serious (Tim Gunn's teenage suicide attempt) to the superfluous ("[Rachael] Ray has a pit bull named Isaboo"). Projects/recipes "inspired by" the books' subjects are fairly uninspired, but middle-grade fans of the shows may enjoy the serviceable texts and color photos. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Reality TV Titans titles: Fun and Food with Guy Fieri, Getting Gritty with Mike Rowe, Pioneer Practices with Ree Drummond, Simple Solutions with Rachael Ray, Tasteful Fashion with Tim Gunn, and Zany Eats with Andrew Zimmern.
48 pp.
| Random/Schwartz & Wade
| May, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-375-86944-0$17.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-375-96944-7$20.99
(3)
4-6
This picture book biography crammed full of gouache art and hand-lettered text may appeal especially to middle-grader graphic novel fans. The story of Child’s life and the discovery of her passion is intriguing to read and visually explore, with interesting details (size 12 shoe!), bits of French, and even recipes.
40 pp.
| Abrams
| May, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-0177-1$16.95
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Amy Bates.
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.