Minette Mimosa McWilliams Child belonged to Julia and Paul Child when they lived in Paris. “Julia and Paul were charmed by Minette’s delicate whiskers, her superior nose, her quick little paws.” Minette is offered nibbles of this and that, and sometimes deigns to eat them, but she much prefers mice. Then Julia takes cooking lessons, and the smells in the kitchen while Minette sits at Julia’s feet, or chases a brussels sprout on a string, are heavenly. Susanna Reich’s delightful story, based loosely on the real cat that belonged to the Childs, remains child-centered (or is that cat-centered?) even as it captures the emergence of Julia’s passion. Reich’s narrative is full of delightful details and playful language, a perfect match for the playful subject. Minette can be found in every one of Amy Bates’s charming pencil and watercolor illustrations, even when humans are the focal point. An afterword provides more information on Julia Child, including a photo of her with the real Minette, and notes provide sources for all of the story’s dialogue, none of which is made up (unlike Minette’s passion for mice which, Reich acknowledges in her author’s note, was never documented by Julia). (Ages 4–8)