Thanks to NetGalley and Astra Publishing for the copy of Born Hungry: Julia Child Becomes "The French Chef". It's written by her grandnephew Alex Prud'homme and illustrated by Sarah Green. This is an illustrated biography that goes over the life of Julia McWilliams. She grew up loving to eat, but didn't learn how to cook. The book covers her involvement in WWII and meeting Paul Child. Paul had a huge impact on her expanding her tastes and interest in food. At 37 years old she learned how to cook in France. At the time Americans were used to boxed meals and convenient cooking, especially after the exhausting rations during WWII. Julia had a big impact on American culture getting back into (or starting) cooking and enjoying being in the kitchen. She was the first American celebrity ched. The book's illustrations are lovely with bright colors. It's an educational book for kids who like to cook or interested in French cuisine and culture.

This is an awesome book. The illustrations are beautiful. It is digestible enough for k-3 children. A great add to a child’s library of books. Read it to several kids and they loved the story it was very age appropriate.

This was fabulous! It was written by her grand-nephew, who collaborated with Child on her memoir, My Life in France. We get a good overview of Child's life, from childhood through her years working for the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and the USIS (US Investigation Services) in France. After marrying Paul Child, she decided she'd better learn to cook, and her legacy was born. The text is engaging - how could it not be, given the subject? - the art is wonderfully expressive, and the back material is interesting and helpful; it includes lists of her books, t.v. shows, etc, books, websites and other places to get more information, and a deceptively simple recipe for scrambled eggs. I say "deceptively simple" because these are French scrambled eggs, which do require more patience and moving on and off the heat, which will help children (and me!) learn that sometimes taking things slow and paying full attention to the food while it's cooking can lead to great results! I'm assuming they're great, anyway, as I haven't actually tried making the eggs yet! Child's interesting and exciting life paired with her enthusiasm for cooking make this an inspiring biography for kids.

#BornHungry #NetGalley

Unfortunately this book did not work out for me (or my 8 year old daughter). The only thing I enjoyed was the illustrations. I usually love picture book biographies but it felt like the writing was off and like chunks of time from Julia’s life were missing that would have helped transition from one point in time to the next. Unfortunately my daughter and I were both bored the entire time.

This is a great book! The illustrations were whimsical and inviting and the text was engaging. I learned a lot about Julia Childs that I did not know previously. Kids will be inspired to savor food and to help out in the kitchen after reading this lovely picture book.

What a delightful children’s book, written with love by Julia Child’s grandnephew. The compelling text and colorful illustrations introduce the famous chef to young readers with verve and great respect.

Even adults can learn much about Julia, who worked for the OSS in Ceylon and China during WWII; learned to cook at 37 through lessons in Paris at Le Cordon Bleu — the only woman student then! She went on to write the cookbook that’s become a beloved classic: Mastering the Art of French cooking, and to host the now iconic TV show, The French Chef, that still charms as it instructs.

Julia — a giant in height (6’2’’), talent, heart, and good cheer. Bon appétit!

Pub Date: 08 Feb 2022
#BornHungry #NetGalley

Merci to the author, Astra Publishing House, Calkins Creek, and NetGalley for the Arc; opinions are mine.

Born Hungry is engaging picture book biography about how American born Julia Child came to be known as "the French Chef." Readers will enjoy the vibrant pictures while learning about Julia's life. The book traces her life, including information about her earlier career in the US Office of Strategic Services during World War II and her experiences with learning to cook, beginning with being the only woman in her cooking class. The messages of persistence and continual growth and learning are reinforced throughout the book, making it a great example of showing a growth mindset in action. This will be enjoyed by readers who are foodies or fans of cooking competition shows. It's also a great example of a biography for middle grade readers and would make a good addition to a classroom or school library.

Born Hungry packs a lot into a small, beautifully-illustrated book. Julia Child's story is well-known among adults, and this is the first book that I've seen that makes it accessible to younger audiences. The book puts a lot of emphasis on Child's can-do attitude and the inspiring way she often fought for her place in a male-dominated industry, promoting a growth mindset. I was also pleased by the pro-food standpoint of the book, which seems like it would be a given in a book about a famous chef, but was really affirming. From the page we first meet young Julia McWilliams (Child's maiden name), the reader is taught that food is something we are fueled by and can be interested in. Born Hungry is an excellent addition to a feminist, body-positive, and enjoyable library!

As a longtime fan of Julia Child, this book was a must have! The illustrations were sweet and the love she has for cooking and food springs from the page. I loved the recipe at the end, and I think this book will appeal to children who have dreams and the desire to do what they love! An adorable book all around!

This zesty little biography about a larger than life personality who revolutionized cooking in post-WWII America captures Julia Child's love of food with mouthwatering detail. Additional resources as well as a simple, tasty recipe are included at the end to sweeten the deal. Great for a dive into women's studies or to highlight the importance of following one's passions and interests.

What a wonderful tribute to Julia Child! This is much more thoughtful and lively than a simple recitation of dates and achievements. Reading this, students can really come to appreciate Julia Child's vivacity and joie de vivre. I loved getting to know how she became the fun, funny chef we all knew.

The illustrations enrich the text beautifully--they are bright and have a dreamy watercolor feeling. This would be an engaging biography for older elementary or middle school students and would be a great addition to school and classroom libraries.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Born Hungry is a delightful picture book detailing Julia Child's life before she became a celebrity chef. The illustrations are bright and fun, which children of all ages will enjoy. I love that the book includes a section at the end that includes important works to learn more about Julia Child, including books, TV shows, movies, and podcasts. They also include Julia Child's scrambled eggs recipe, which is perfect for an aspiring chef. This book will be a hit with the young foodie (or Julia Child fan) in your life.

Born Hungry by Alex Prud’Homme is kids biography of Julia Child. I enjoyed the information in the book about Child and the supplemental bibliography. I liked what I learned and the graphics that were in the book. This book would be perfect for any foodie or junior chef. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. (My review is also on Goodreads.)

Thank you NetGalley, Alex Prud'homme and Astra Publishing House for the ARC of Born Hungry. This is my personal review.
Born Hungry is a nonfiction children’s book about how Julia Child became known as “The French Chef”.
The story along with the wonderful illustrations give the reader a quick glimpse of her life and how she became the wonderful chef she did.
If you know of an aspiring chef this is a beautiful book to give them. It is written so expertly that they will want to get into the kitchen and learn the art of cooking.
Her recipe for scrambled eggs is written so you know exactly why things are happening as you make the recipe.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A great non-fiction book for kids about Julia Child's and how she became a famous cook.

“Born Hungry” is a beautifully-illustrated non-fiction children’s book about the life of Julia Child. I absolutely loved the quotes that were included from Julia Child herself and the detailed illustrations on each and every page, leaving the reader inspired and hungry to go give cooking a try or to, at the very least, try out a new dish. I do wish there was another simple child-friendly recipe of Julia Child’s included other than scrambled eggs. We look forward to adding this one to our collection.

This is a darling children's book with beautiful illustrations! I am a Julia Child fangirl, and I loved reading her story in a children's format. This would make a fantastic gift for children who enjoy cooking, or for foodies who are soon-to-be parents.

Though this is a book written for children, it's guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of any food-loving adult as well.

The short but extremely intriguing overview of Julia Child's life is complemented by charming illustrations. (If a reader isn't too familiar with her biography, there will be a few surprises in store as well. Including sharks!)

The description of Julia's life-changing meal at a French restaurant is lovingly described, and the facial expressions depicted by the illustrator convey warm emotion throughout the book. The fact that the author was personally acquainted with Julia and her husband makes for an intimate, heartfelt style.

This book will likely whet your appetite to learn more about Julia Child's life and cooking. That's why it's so nice that at the back are listed websites, TV shows, and books to find out more.

There's also a simple recipe for scrambled eggs that children can try. Though it's not complex, it is written in a way to help them really pay attention to the changes that are taking place in food while it cooks.

A delightful little book for either children or adults!

Oh my gosh I love this book! As a chef I love to incorporate cooking books with my daughter so she can somewhat relate to my career. I love Julia Child and when I saw this I knew I had to review it! The graphics are beautiful, the story isn't overwhelmingly factual for a child. The recipes in the back of the book are great for cooking together in the kitchen! I will absolutely be purchasing this book!

There are many picture books about women who were famous in their day, but might not be known to people now. Although I own "The Art of French cooking" by Julia Child, I was a little too young, at the time, to have watched her cooking programs. I did however watch the movie Julie and Julia, which used part of the memoir she was writing with her great nephew, just before she died, as the source for many of the Julia scenes.

And it is this great nephew who has written this picture book, a very brief history of what made Julia Child tick. How, as the title says, she was born hungry, and spent her life trying to find the food that appealed to her, and then discover how to cook it.

Simple, and to the point, with a bonus recipe at the back, as well as a little more explanation on Julia Child.

Delightful book.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>