I loved the way French was incorporated into the book which is perfect for kids, and even young adults just learning the language for the first time. I felt that the story was adorable, and easy to follow.. I received a review copy fro Net Galley.

A fun introduction to the French language, foods, and culture for young children. The mice are so silly and entertaining.

Such a darling book! It's about 7 mice brothers (and one sister) who make the best cheese soup and how they deal with a food critic coming to taste it. I love that it is a fun way to teach some easy French words. The illustrations are cute and the story is too. I love that the sister saves the day, go girl!!

Marie Le Tourneau has another adorable picture book for ages 4-8. While the artwork is different than some of other other work, it is nonetheless appreciated by her target audience.

The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frères is a cute story, playing on the idea of a family of mice running a restaurant and competing in a culinary competition for the best cheese soup. Le Tourneau weaves in French words for English speaking children to have exposure to another language. Overall the book is cute, although I still have some of my own reservations.

The family of mice, headed by their chef father, has named the restaurant after the seven brothers in the family. Could it have been named before the birth of the youngest child, the only daughter? Certainly. However, the family doesn’t seem to acknowledge her contributions or think very highly of her. Even when she saves the day, she is still written as having her head in the clouds. I think this would have been a stronger message and story had she been written differently.

Such a charming picture book. I wish I’d read it ages ago! The pictures are lovely and reveal more and more as you explore them.

I was given a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

Chef Marcel is famous for his cheese soup with its secret ingredient. When a last minute telegram arrives announcing the imminent arrival of the judge for his annual tasting, chaos ensues as each of the seven sons and only daughter, Petit Michelle are assigned tasks to help prepare the soup and bistro, while Chef Marcel goes to get more of the secret ingredient. The whimsical illustrations bring this story to life and readers will enjoy the twist that brings this story to a humorous and satisfying conclusion.

Pleasant children’s book depicting a family of mice resterauteurs, who come together and save the day and meal with the surprising help of one special mouse. This book has cute illustrations showing a Parisian restaurant, while also providing French vocabulary throughout.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3557558071?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I have to start with expressing how exquisite the illustrations are in this delightful children's book. Beyond the wonderful story, tis book offers many educational opportunities, as well as a fun way for parents and children to spend time together.
Father, Chef Marcel, seems to be a very traditional male. His passion is his restaurant and his pride are the sons who work with him, perhaps to one day carry on as award winning chefs themselves. The book acknowledges that each son has his own interests and talents outside of the restaurant. Darling Petite Michelle, the youngest, and only daughter, has been sort of a mascot, an after-thought in the family business, but she takes her place in stride. She is confident that she is of value.
When a great opportunity arises on short notice, and the male members of the famly seem to panic, Petite Michelle carrys on, doing what needs to be done. In the end, a happy ending, and proof that change can be a good thing. Sweet Michelle gets the recognition she deserves.

Many opportunities for conversation starters, both in text and illustrations.

I thought the book was a cute way to introduce French to a child. I loved the illustrations. I would definitely use this book in my class.

What a cute little story! And beautifully illustrated! An absolute joy to share with my own kids and my little nephews.

Super cute and charming picture book. The illustrations are a delight! Fans of Disney's Ratatouille will definitely be fan of The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frères by Marie Letourneau.

This was an enjoyable book but best marketed to children.

Marie Letourneau has crafted a delightful picture about seven rodentine brothers who run a bistro with the best cheese soup in all of Paris. But can they prove it when a food critic shows up while the mouse father is still at the market? An overlooked member of the family saves the day!

Here’s a book peppered with French that will delight Francophones and Anglophones alike, whether you are a jeune fille ou garcon or personne âgée or any age in between.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Tanglewood in exchange for an honest review.

Such an adorable book.
Could not be cuter. Loved it!

An enchanting and engaging children's book with wonderful illustrations throughout. I really enjoyed the story and how the author is sneakily encouraging foreign language learning for english speaking children, in an engaging and effortless manner. Well done, I really adore this book!

A fun read for sure. Short but really sweet. Kids will definitely enjoy the story. The graphics are good, as well. Would want to read more.

Such a cute little read. The illustrations were adorable.

Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frère by Marie Letourneau is a book with wonderful illustrations. The book is set in a petit bistro in France, it is the story of a restaurant run by a family of mice. Each of the mice is unique in its own character and the illustrations depicted are both elegant and witty.

Frenzy arises when Chef Marcel, of Le Bistrot de Sept Freres, has only one hour to prepare his award winning cheese soup to be judged by the Committee for the Best cheese soup in All of France. But Chef Marcel is out of his secret ingredient! Chef Marcel quickly leaves to get his secret ingredient but doesn't return in time for the judge, leaving his 7 brothers to create their own secret ingredient to add.

The story has aa wonderful message that teaches children that just because things do not go as planned, team work can make everything turn out better than expected.

The artwork is cute. I love the fact that the story teaches French words and has a page dedicated to pronunciation. The book teaches French words to the reader in a fun and enjoyable way. The characters are so much fun, but I especially like the hero of the story.

I received the ARC from Tanglewood via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mouse Chef Marcel runs a bistro with his seven sons and one daughter. The bistro is known for it's famous soupe au fromage. Everyone knows the ingredients, but only Chef Marcel knows the secret ingredient. When it becomes known that a food critic will be coming to try the cheese soup chaos ensues as Chef Marcel has run out of the secret ingredient. An unlikely hero appears.

This is a lovely little story. It's entertaining, educational, and hilarious. The illustrations are beautiful. The book starts with a list of how to pronounce the french words in the text. I love that those french words sprinkled over the book because it will teach children french without them realizing it. Each of Chef Marcel's children have completely different interests and personalities yet they managed to work together and make the soup. Children not only learn french but they learn about food. The book provides a great message, that even if you're small you can have an impact in the world. I think it's hilarious that each son's name begins with Jean because that is so French, and quite realistic. I think that children will really enjoy this book. I definitely recommend it.

The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Freres
Written and Illustrated by: Marie LeTourneau

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Such a charming book - I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Plot:
The story is set in the Bistrot des Sept Freres, a mouse Parisian cafe which is famous for its award winning cheese soup. It is run by Chef Marcel and his seven sons (of the cafe name). Each day they recite the ingredients in the soup and finish up by saying, "... and the secret ingredient." There is also a daughter, "petite Michelle". She loves to dance and helps out here and there. She is not included in the name of the cafe! This year, when the judge for the cheese soup announces his arrival time, Chef Marcel realizes that he is out of the secret ingredient. Mayhem ensues. While Chef Marcel runs out to get the ingredient, the seven sons pull together the rest of the soup (cheese, broth, etc,). All throughout the confusion and disorder, Michelle has been calmly setting out eggs, and folding napkins. Oh no, the deadline is approaching and Dad hasn't returned, what to do? Petite Michelle dances in and calmly adds salt, rosemary,and six drops of hot pepper sauce. Spoiler alert - the judge loves the soup and the cafe's reputation is saved! At the end of the book, Chef Marcel adds "et une Soeur" (and a sister)! Perfect!

I loved too the French lesson gently inserted throughout the book. At the beginning is a list of pronunciations for the French words (no English translations). Then, as you read, the French phrases occur organically in the story followed by an English translation

Illustrations:
I loved, loved these pictures. They so beautifully illustrated and enhanced the story. I especially loved the open windows with scenes of Paris in rich, full color. The illustrator used color so effectively. The scenes had black and white components mixed with color. For instance, the mouse was in black and white but his coat was a mossy green. The kitchen would be black and white with petite Michelle dancing around performing culinary magic in color. The mice were adorably human-like. There is a scene set in the cafe (pre-cheese soup inspection) that warrants close inspection of each character. They are individually recognizable characters.

Author/ Illustrator:
Ms. LeTourneau's website is pretty interesting. She has written and illustrated a few other books which looked equally interesting and certainly worth reading. She also has award winning stationery for sale through ETSY.

Tanglewood Publishers:
At the end of the book, the author provides a link for her cheese soup recipe. This link takes you to the site of the wonderful Tanglewood Publishing House. Their focus is on kids from board books to Young Adult. I found there the endearing "Kissing Hand" books and a new book I've been interested in reading (YA section) "Surviving the Angel of Death". They also carry Ms. LeTourneau's new book, "Argyle Fox" which launches March 26. At their website they say, "in every Tanglewood book readers will find a sense of comfort that comes with being seen and understood." You definitely get that message in "The Mice of Bistrot ...".

In conclusion:
Such a wonderful book! Your kids will love it and so will you.