Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles - Hardcover

Grade 3–4—Madame Pamplemousse makes the rarest, most delicious delicacies in all of Paris in the basement of her small, shabby-looking shop. Monsieur Lard, who runs a fancy restaurant, The Squealing Pig, wants to be recognized as a famous chef, but his cooking is "revolting." His young niece discovers Madame Pamplemousse's shop when the restaurant runs out of pâté and she is sent to buy some. Word gets out about how wonderful it is, and Monsieur Langoustine, the most powerful food critic in Paris, books a table at the restaurant. Monsieur Lard volunteers Madeleine to be Madame's assistant so he can get one of her mysterious recipes. The child is given precise but minimal instructions and discovers the secret to Madame Pamplemousse's success. The friendship that develops between them is nicely done, and the fairy-tale ending is satisfying. Charming pen-and-ink spot art is a humorous accompaniment to this fanciful tale.—Debbie S. Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI
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