Discussion Guide - Born Hungry: Julia Child Becomes "the French Chef" by Alex Prud'homme

DISCUSSION GUIDE

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BORN HUNGRY: Julia Child Becomes “the French Chef”

Written by Alex Prud’homme Illustrated by Sarah Green $18.99 US / $24.99 CAN ISBN: 978-1-63592-323-0 Grades: 2-5 Ages: 7–10

ABOUT THE BOOK Before Julia Child became a world-renowned chef, she was a young girl who loved food and was curious about cooking, but she “only knew how to boil water and make toast.” In this enticing picture book, young readers can see how Julia’s passion for food turned into a passion for cooking—and then into a passion for joyfully teaching others how to cook.

Author Alex Prud’homme uses a warm and engaging style to share the story of his larger-than-life great-aunt who loved to try new things and was not afraid to make mistakes. Children will be delighted

by Sarah Green’s colorful illustrations depicting Julia’s curiosity, enthusiasm, and love for food.

PRAISE FOR BORN HUNGRY: JULIA CHILD BECOMES “THE FRENCH CHEF” “Born Hungry is a vivid portrait of Julia in all her glory. Unpretentious, fun, direct, and honest, it describes her love of cooking and teaching throughout her career, from Le Cordon Bleu, to cookbook author, to television food icon. An enjoyable read.”

—Jacques Pépin, author, artist, celebrity chef, and a longtime friend and collaborator of Julia Child’s

© 2021 DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR BORN HUNGRY: JULIA CHILD BECOMES “THE FRENCH CHEF”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

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1. How tall was Julia McWilliams? What size shoes did she wear? What did she like to do when she was young?

2. Growing up, Julia “only knew how to boil water and make toast.” Who did the cooking in Julia’s house?

3. Julia “dreamed of having adventures.” As a young adult, she volunteered for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) when America joined World War II. What kind of work did she do? How did she feel about moving to Ceylon, present-day Sri Lanka?

4. Who moved into the office next door to Julia’s in 1944?

5. Paul Child was an artist and photographer. What did he do for the OSS? How was he different from Julia?

6. What interests did Paul and Julia share? What kind of a ride did Julia encourage Paul to take in Ceylon?

7. After World War II ended, Paul and Julia got married. Julia said, “With a new husband . . . I decided I’d better learn to cook.” What was the first meal Julia cooked for Paul? What did she think of the result?

8. When Julia and Paul traveled to France, they had a memorable meal in Rouen. What foods made up that meal? How did Julia describe that meal?

9. “In Paris, Paul worked at the US embassy while Julia consumed food of every kind.” What were some of the foods Julia ate?

10. What was the initial response to Julia’s arrival at Le Cordon Bleu? What kind of a student was she at the famed cooking school?

11. Julia realized there was a lot to cooking besides cooking: “I had so much more to learn, not only about cooking, but also about shopping and eating and all the many new (to me) foods.” What advice did Chef Max Bugnard give Julia about the markets in Paris?

12. What was the name of the cooking school Julia opened with two of her friends? What were some of the lessons Julia shared with her cooking students?

© 2021 DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR BORN HUNGRY: JULIA CHILD BECOMES “THE FRENCH CHEF”

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

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1. “I was born hungry, not a cook.” Julia Child loved food, but she had very little experience with cooking. What were some of the things Julia did to satisfy her curiosity about food?

2. Look at Sarah Green’s illustrations for Born Hungry. How do the illustrations tell you about what was important to Julia Child? Draw pictures of what’s important to you on a piece of paper. Share your drawing with the class.

3. Paul Child worked at the US embassy in Paris. What’s an embassy?

4. What kind of books did Julia like to read before bed when she was living in France? What kinds of books do you like to read?

5. At the cooking school, Julia learned to “dice, fold, marinate, poach, purée, and sauté.” What do those cooking terms mean?

6. Julia’s favorite desserts were tarte Tatin (a caramelized apple tart) and gâteau reine de Saba (a chocolate and almond cake). What is your favorite sweet treat?

7. Julia’s favorite desserts were tarte Tatin (a caramelized apple tart) and gâteau reine de Saba (a chocolate and almond cake). What is your favorite sweet treat?

8. Julia said, “I came to the conclusion I really must be French, only no one had ever informed me.” Why do you think Julia thought of herself as French?

9. Julia taught her cooking students, and later her television viewers, that good results in cooking required time and care. She believed “a careful approach will result in a magnificent burst of flavor, a thoroughly satisfying meal, perhaps even a life-changing experience.” Imagine you were a student in one of Julia’s cooking classes.

Would you have liked having her as a teacher?

10. In the author’s note at the back of the book, the author shares Julia’s thoughts on failure: “Never apologize! One of the secrets of cooking is to correct something if you can, and bear with it if you cannot. . . . The cook must simply grit her teeth, bear it with a smile, and learn from her mistakes.” Do you think this is good advice?

11. The words “bon appétit” appear throughout the book and were often said by Julia at the end of her television show. What do you think that phrase means?

© 2021 DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR BORN HUNGRY: JULIA CHILD BECOMES “THE FRENCH CHEF”

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

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12. “No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.” Is there something you’re practicing getting better at, like playing an instrument, shooting baskets, or drawing? Do you remember the first time you tried something new? What happened to your skill level the more you practiced?

13. At the end of the book, there is a recipe for scrambled eggs. Have you ever tried to cook or bake something with a parent or another adult? What did you make? Would you like to try to make Julia’s oeufs brouilés?

EXTRA CREDIT 1. During World War II, Julia volunteered for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and was sent to Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. Where is Sri Lanka? What other countries are near Sri Lanka?

2. In the picture of Julia and Paul riding the elephant, there is a sign that says, “Temple of the Tooth.”

To learn more about this interesting temple and other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, visit whc.unesco. org/en/list/450/.

3. Julia’s first recipe was for something that wasn’t meant to be eaten—shark repellent. Can you think of some other nonfoods that might have a recipe?

4. Julia studied at the famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. Le Cordon Bleu means “The Blue Ribbon” in French.

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “blue ribbon”?

Why do you think the cooking school is called that?

5. In the author’s note, Prud’homme remembers his great-aunt as “a revolutionary who taught America to cook with a smile.”

For Julia Child, cooking was “such fun,” and she took great delight in teaching “her audience how to make a mouthwatering dinner in half an hour.” For a look at Julia’s joyful approach to teaching others how to cook, visit juliachildfoundation.org/ to view some excerpts from her cooking shows.

6. There’s a long list of books written by Julia Child at the end of Born Hungry. Visit your local library and check out one of those books. Select a recipe to make with an adult. Which one did you choose, and why?

7. Born Hungry is a terrific book to read during Women’s History Month in March. Talk about some other female chefs you know about whom you could celebrate alongside Julia Child during the month. How do you know about these other chefs? Do you think they were inspired to become chefs by learning about Julia Child and her accomplishments?

© 2021 DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR BORN HUNGRY: JULIA CHILD BECOMES “THE FRENCH CHEF”