Gigi: Bon Appétit!

Ooh la la! Gigi is back, and she’s living “la vie français!” The beloved protagonist from Gigi: Big Sister and Gigi: The Ballet Recitalreturns in this delightful sequel, where we see our spunky heroine explore her love for all things French. Gigi’s seventh birthday is coming up and she wants to celebrate in style, specifically Parisian-style. She is absolutely obsessed with doing things the way the French do, including sporting a jaunty red beret and introducing herself as “Sophie-Marie-Cosette-Elise.” Gigi is over the moon when her parents agree to take her to a fancy French restaurant for her birthday celebration, but things go awry when it’s not quite what the birthday girl expected, especially when the waiter arrives with a plate of snails! (Mon Dieu!) Luckily, Mom and Dad are ready with a traditional celebration back at the house because, as fun as it is to try new things, sometimes you just want the familiar comforts of home, s’il vous plait!

Gigi: Bon Appétit is an excellent addition to the Gigi trilogy, and readers of all ages will relate to Gigi’s fascination with things fancy and foreign. Who hasn’t daydreamed of walking their poodle along the Champs-Élysées while sipping a café au lait? And seeing the fantasy through Gigi’s eyes is a guaranteed laugh on every page. Gigi’s personality is as effervescent as a bottle of Perrier, and the quirky illustrations perfectly capture her unique sense of whimsy. (Also, the juxtaposition of Gigi’s outrageous enthusiasm with the beleaguered looks of her captive audience of friends and family is particularly hilarious.) This book is a great way to introduce kids to the appeal of other cultures and languages, as well as a lesson in how to roll with it when life doesn’t always live up to our (sometimes overblown!) expectations. As always, Gigi’s family is there to support her when she needs them, and the sweet family interactions bring balance to the fun frivolity of the story. If you’re looking for a kid's book with joie de vivre, say “oui” to Gigi!