Fanny in France

Travel Adventures of a Chef’s Daughter, with Recipes

Written by Alice Waters with Bob Carrau, Illustrated by Ann Arnold

I think this book would be best for the French immersion schools. From the short blurb I saw on the book, I thought it would be more recipe book than story, but I was wrong. The first 85 pages are young Fanny’s tales of her travels in France. It is told in a young girl’s voice, so though I thought it was sweet, it would be a bit slow for older children. Through Fanny’s telling of the day-to-day experiences, the reader gets a glimpse into life in France. The last 85 pages of the book are traditional French recipes. Where the story was for a younger audience, the recipes require more than basic cooking skills. I don’t think a 9 year old would be able to attempt “Martine’s Roast Chicken with Smoked Paprika and Mustard.” Perhaps it would be best for parents and children to read this book together, and then head for the kitchen to create a French menu together.

Review by Teresa Edmunds, Westbrook Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★✩✩ (3 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

Fanny in France: With French Adventures and French Recipes
Written by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse with Bob Carrau, Illustrated by Ann Arnold
Viking / Penguin Group
176 pages
Release Date: October 25, 2016
A review copy was provided by the publisher.

Tags:

2016 Children's Nonfiction, Alice Waters, Ann Arnold, Autobiography, Bob Carrau, Chez Panisse, Cookbooks, Cooking, Fanny Singer, France, French Cooking, Memoir, recipes, Teresa Edmunds, Travel