Recipe for Disaster

Remy is anything but ordinary. He walks upright, reads, and boasts an exceptional sense of smell and a refined palate. Living in the attic of an old cottage, his colony is content to eat garbage and has no understanding of his sophistication. Tasked with sniffing out poison, Remy grows frustrated and longs to pursue finer things. When he discovers a French cookbook in the cottage kitchen, he pores over its pages and begins to experiment with cooking. Its author, Auguste Gusteau, becomes his guiding inspiration as he hones his craft. After the colony is abruptly discovered and forced to flee, Remy’s life takes a momentous turn. 

After nearly drowning and being separated from his family, Remy reaches Paris and, by sheer luck, finds himself at Gusteau’s, the famed restaurant founded by the cookbook author he idolizes. He discovers, to his sorrow, that Gusteau has died. Yet, in an extraordinary turn, the late chef returns as a spirit guide, a vision of memory and imagination who nudges Remy forward with advice and encouragement. Determined to cook in this fine restaurant, he forges a secret alliance with a kitchen employee. His disguise holds—until it doesn’t. Can he pursue his dreams in the human world? Will he reunite with his family and follow the passion for cooking that defines him? 

Recipe for Disaster is a chapter book told in first-person narration, spinning a delightfully improbable tale: a rat with rare skills and passions makes his way to Paris to follow in his mentor’s footsteps. Themes include bias, friendship, and resilience. The title is telling because a sense of looming disaster builds toward a surprising finale. Readers will eagerly anticipate what happens next and be rewarded with a heartwarming ending. 

In Chapter Two, Gusteau returns as a spirit guide, reminding Remy of the lesson from the opening chapter and his cookbook title, Anyone Can Cook! Remy takes this philosophy to heart. Soon, the contrast between the late, celebrated French chef—whose Parisian restaurant made him famous—and a rat with culinary ambitions exposes the tensions that arise when a rat enters the human world. Beyond the near-universal disdain humans have for rats, the very idea of a rat cooking seems preposterous. This reality torments Remy. He knows all too well the bias humans hold against rodents. He laments, “no human was ever going to see past the fact that I am a rat.” 

Unlikely as it sounds, Remy bonds with the kitchen helper, Linguini—the first human to treat him kindly. After Linguini botches a soup, Remy rescues it and turns it into a masterpiece. “Pretty sure I just made restaurant history as the first rat chef,” Remy jokes. From there, they create the impression that Linguini has extraordinary talent, prompting the executive chef to bring in a senior cook to train him. Hidden under Linguini’s hat, Remy steers him skillfully: “We discovered I could get Linguini to move in different ways by tugging his hair—one pull to chop, another to crack an egg.” In marionette-like fashion, they create delicious food that brings the restaurant acclaim. Soon, France’s top food critic takes notice and the story races toward a tipping point. 

As with any good reveal, readers will relish how far Remy has come since his days in the cottage attic. He’s shown courage by refusing to give up on his dream. With the help of a human ally, he devises a way to cook in a fine Parisian restaurant. Even the critic’s review is full of praise. A parallel storyline reveals Linguini’s true identity: the corrupt executive chef has been hiding documents that prove he is Gusteau’s son. “The will said he was the rightful owner of Gusteau’s!” But the revelation strains their friendship. As fame goes to his head, Linguini becomes arrogant and begins to sideline Remy, nearly forgetting the friend who got him there. 

Ratatouille: Recipe for Disaster features a handful of whimsical line illustrations by Caroline LaVelle Egan. At 80 pages, it’s a satisfying, lighthearted read full of colorful characters and steady momentum. It also raises surprising philosophical questions about the personal truths we hold and the pursuits we follow when faced with adversity. Remy may be a rat, yet he embodies the courage of those who chase their dreams: “Like Gusteau had said, I had to be fearless if I wanted to be great!” 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language   

• None 

Supernatural  

• The late Gusteau appears in several instances as Remy’s spirit guide, offering advice and encouragement like a trusted friend.  

Spiritual Content  

• None 

by Maureen Lowe