A Julia Child Children's Book

Tall, gangly Julia Child with her bird voice and oversized appetite was a character tailor-made for a children's book. At last, she has made her debut in Jessie Hartland's illustrated story of her life, "Bon Appetit!" Hartland begins with Child's youth in Pasadena and skips along to her time as a spy, as a newlywed in Paris, and through her years as a celebrity TV chef.

Hartland, who has a little Richard Scary in her style, spares no detail -- Julia's wild sister Dort makes an appearance, as does the Blue Flash (the big American car Julia and Paul shipped over to France); you meet Julia's pal Avis De Voto, and get a step-by-pickled-tongue-step explanation of how to make galantine. For my 5-year-olds, this was a 3-sitting book, but they came away knowing that if they want to hunt for truffles, they'll need a pig, and that moving from Paris to Marseilles to Oslo looks kind of exciting. They are now fully prepared for life.

Now, your turn: we'd love to know your favorite food-centric children's books. Tell us in the comments section.