Bon Appetit, Bertie! - Hardcover

Joan Knight

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0751370037 ISBN 13: 9780751370034

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1993

Synopsis

Tells the amusing tale of the Bonfig family, to whom nothing exciting ever happens - until they receive a mysterious letter. This book is designed to introduce the concepts of a foreign language to young children.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

Basic French vocabulary is the raison d'etre for this lighthearted picture-book adventure. Out of the blue, the boring, stay-at-home Bonfig family wins a trip to Paris. Upon the clan's arrival in the City of Light, young son Bertie scours the hotel in search of a snack. While the boy is treated to gastronomical delights in the hotel kitchen, his parents, hotel personnel and even the police are launching an all-out search. Mayhem ensues, and Knight's text serves up several French words (unobtrusively and skillfully woven into the story's framework) to describe the action. Dann's sprightly, slightly cartoonish watercolors maintain the air of frivolity. Many scenes contain objects labeled with the appropriate French word--one lively spread presents a map of famous Paris landmarks, another showcases a table laden with traditional French food. The carefully selected background detail and hotel decor are informative as well. Young readers can't help but appreciate this antic, ultimately effective introduction to another language and culture. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- The Bonfigs' humdrum lives are altered when a mysterious letter arrives with three free tickets to Paris. Once there, their son, Bertie, takes charge of the trip and uses his map to identify landmarks on the route to their hotel. They check in to Room 22 and, while his parents rest, Bertie explores the kitchen and, through miscommunication, orders dinner for 22. His parents panic when they discover his absence; once he has been found, the hotel personnel help consume the feast Bertie provides. Dann's illustrations include the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower as well as a two-page map noting familiar edifices. The ample meal fills a giant table with food items labeled in French. Cartoon characters add to the humorous tone of the story. While not as original as Maira Kalman's Ooh-la-la (Max in Love) (Viking, 1991) or as factually accurate as Roxie Munro's Inside-Outside Book of Paris (Dutton, 1992), Bon Appetit, Bertie is an acceptable supplementary title for Francophiles. --Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishers
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0751370037
• ISBN 13: 9780751370034
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32