PASCUAL AND THE KITCHEN ANGELS

Using acrylics and gesso to make his beautiful, cheerful, and warmhearted images that are so familiar to children, dePaola recounts the story of St. Pascual, patron of cooks. This Spanish saint prayed in the fields with his sheep and bedecked them with flower garlands. When he was of age, he went to the monastery of St. Francis, laden with food from his mother. The friars immediately asked him to cook for them, but Pascual had no idea how. While he prayed intently in the kitchen, “Angels in little white aprons were flying down to cook” for him and the friars. It was so good, the friars asked Pascual to cook every night. He never learned how, but the angels never let him down. A note about the saint and a dedication to a number of notable foodies complete this utterly charming work. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)