Who Was Julia Child? by Geoff Edgers

 Who Was ...? biography series for middle grade brings fun character of Julia Child who was a celebrity chef and best-selling author. 

Julia McWilliams (1912-2004) from childhood was full of energy and adventure, clever and mischievous.

At school, she struggled with her classes, but she loved learning new things and making friends. After college, she took a job in NYC for a furniture company. She dreamed of becoming a writer for a famous magazine but nobody would hire her. 

Later, when the US joined WWII, Julia wanted to do something to help. She got a position at one of the top secret agencies in the US government.  This job gave her a chance to see different parts of the world, its people and foods. 

It was also were she met her husband – Paul Child, who was well-travelled and knew a lot about food. He showed her that trying new foods was an exciting way to learn about new cultures.

After the war, they moved to Washington DC where Paul got a job for the US government. Julia decided to stay home and learn how to cook. When Paul received an offer to take a position in Paris, they accepted it. 

In Paris, Julia fell in love with French food and culture. She signed up for cooking classes at the world-famous cooking school. After graduating, with two friends, they started a cooking school. Two of her friends, already started working on a French cookbook and asked her to help. Finally, they found a publisher.

After Paul retired, they returned to the US and settled in Cambridge, MA. 

Four months after the book came out, she was invited to appear on a Boston television where she unexpectedly set a station to make an omelet. By next day, the TV station received many requests to see more of Julia. The first show debuted in February 1963 and was an instant hit. 

This biography illuminates a woman who despite doing poorly in school showed how successful one can still be. Her friendly personality won her the school cup for the spirit of the school. And her spirit of wanting to serve during the war led her to finding the purpose in her life.

This illustrated biography series for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences and enriched with insightful inserts. 

Published in 2015 by Penguin Workshop

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: “If I can do it, you can do it!”

 

Traits:

·         She struggled with her classes, but she loved learning new things

·         Her friendly personality made her stand out and win the spirit of the school

·         Despite finishing school with poor greats, it didn’t stop her from applying for positions she wasn’t qualified for

·         Her wanting to help during the war was the moment she used to turn things around for herself

·         The need to serve during the war in any possible way led her to the right path where she found her passion

·         She learned that trying new things was an adventure in itself

 

“If I can do it, you can do it!” - Julia Child

“Learn how to cook – try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun.” – Julia Child

Who Was Henry Ford? by Michael Burgan

 Who Was ...? biography series for middle grade brings fascinating character of Henry Ford who was the world’s most successful car maker and the founder of mass-production of automobiles. 

Henry Ford (1863-1947) was born on the Dearborn farm in Michigan. He was good at math and fascinated with mechanical objects. He explored the inside of any watch he could find. He also took apart wind-up toys and studied them. 

In nearby Detroit, he saw steam engines. He was so fascinated by it that he built a miniature steam engine, which exploded and burned down a nearby fence. 

On another trip to Detroit, when he saw a self-powered road engine, he knew he wanted to become a mechanic and an inventor. 

At sixteen, his path took him to Detroit, then back to Dearborn where he continued to learn how to build a steam engine. Meanwhile, he got married and said, “It was a very great thing to have my wife even more confident than I was.” 

Meanwhile, the first gas-powered car was built in Germany in 1885 by Karl Benz, but Henry believed he could improve on the design. 

Time was of essence as other inventors were racing to build automobiles. He didn’t like taking orders from investors. So he left the second company after only four months. Then, he found an investor that gave him free will. 

Detroit automakers were already selling cars, but Ford advertised that his cheaper car Model A was well-made and simple to operate. 

In all his work, he wasn’t driven by money. He said, “To do for the world more than the world does for you – that is success.” 

His new goal was to make new Model T even cheaper and faster. His new mass production was great for productivity but it wasn’t an exciting work. He doubled the salary of some employees in order to keep them long term. 

This biography illuminates a man who didn’t care about money; his drive was to improve people’s lives.  He believed in working hard and living simple which was instilled in him by his mother. It was opposite of how his son lived. Thus, it led to some friction between them. Henry Ford was flawed as any human being and that is also portrayed in the story.

This illustrated biography series for young readers, ages 8-11, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences and enriched with insightful inserts. 

Published in 2002 by Penguin Workshop

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: “Do for the world more than the world does for you.”

 

Traits:

·         Whatever interested him, he was living and breathing it; studying it inside out

·         He didn’t like taking orders from others, so he took risks going on his own

·         He believed in working hard and living simple

·        Whatever he did he did, it was in the name of bettering people’s life, it was never in the name of money

·         He looked for ways to improve his cars until certain age, then he became pragmatic about the past and lived more in the past than present and it hindered the future progress of his success

 

 

“It was a very great thing to have my wife even more confident than I was.” – Henry Ford

“To do for the world more than the world does for you – that is success.” – Henry Ford

Who Was Levi Strauss? by Ellen Labrecque

 Who Was ...? biography series for middle grade brings fascinating man – Levi Strauss, the inventor of blue jeans and a man who changed the fashion industry.

Loeb Strauss was born on February 26, 1829 in Buttenheim, Bavarian region of Germany. He was the youngest of seven children. Because there was a discrimination against Jews in Bavaria, the older brothers left the country for NYC where they opened a store called J. Strauss & Brother with sewing supplies. Later, the rest of the family followed. 

Loeb was nineteen when he came to NYC and adapted the more sounding American name of Levi. 

With the gold rush in California, Levi and his brothers saw an opportunity to sell sturdy clothes to miners. Levi arrived in San Francisco where he opened a warehouse with dry goods. His goods became very popular. He became known as honest and reliable selling good quality products. His business grew. He became involved in charity work and remained humble.

In 1872, Jacob Davis, a tailor in Reno bought denim from Levi which was of good quality. Jacob added tiny metal pins, so the pockets wouldn’t rip. His pants became so popular but he couldn’t keep up with the demand. He trusted Levi with helping him to apply for patent and to manufacture it. Thus, Levi’s jeans was born. They became in high demand making him one of the richest people. 

Levi never married. After his death, his nephews continued to run the business and expend the sales. Levi’s remains to be the largest jean seller. 

This biography exemplifies a man who stood by quality of what he was selling. In the process, making him one of the richest men of his time. His contribution to the world is quality and giving back to community. 

This illustrated biography series for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences and enriched with insightful inserts.

Published in 2021 by Penguin Workshop

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Stand by Quality, not Quantity.

 

 

Traits:

·         He was honest and reliable

·         He gave back to community

·         He was humble

·         He stood by quality, not quantity. With quality, the quantity came.

 

 

“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” - Aristotle