Book: What Shall We Cook Today?
Author: Linda Collister,
Liz Franklin, Amanda Grant, & Annie Rigg
Publisher: Ryland
Peters and Small
Pages: 160
Grade Level: 4th Grade
and Up
Rating: 5 Stars
Need some excitement on a snow day or a fresh dessert idea for a
sunny day in summer? This cookbook has everything you need! The cookbook is
formatted by season to optimize the freshest fruits and vegetables. There is a
nice balance between healthy and unhealthy foods and the instructions are very
clear as are the ingredients needed.
If cooking is the way you bring your family together, this is
the cookbook for you. There are pictures of every recipe so you can see the
final product and everything looks delicious! I am really looking forward to
spending time in the kitchen with this cookbook!
Book: Cook School
Author: Amanda
Grant
Photographer: Susan Bell
Publisher: Ryland Peters and
Small
Pages: 128
Grade Level: 1st Grade and Up
Rating: 3 Stars
Cook School proves
you are never too young to get in the kitchen and start cooking! The cookbook
is broken down into three age groups; 3-5 years, 5-7 years and 7-11 years, but
the recipes can be mixed and matched to make the perfect meal. The introduction
discusses in depth the different skills used for cooking, kitchen equipment and
there is a “grownups page” at the beginning of each stage to help guide the
adults.
Some of the recipes are definitely in the appropriate age
category (Ex: Ants on a Log: peanut-butter on celery topped with craisins or
raisins for 3-5 year olds) while some don’t fit in as well. (Ex: Crunchy Paprika
Chicken for 3-5 year olds). While I understand that adults watch the children
while they are in the kitchen, I think any recipe involving an oven should be
geared towards older children, who can use an oven without supervision. The recipes
are relatively simple but the cookbook is really formatted for an adult to
guide children instead of children leading the way on their cooking adventure. The
pictures are excellent step-by-step instructions and I cannot wait to make some
of the recipes to spruce up meals when I have company!
Book: The Do It Myself Kids' Cookbook
Author: Laurie Goldrich Wolf
Photographer: Bruce Wolf
Publisher: Downtown Bookworks
Pages: 128
Grade Level: 3rd Grade and up
Rating: 5 Stars
Put away those sharp knives and oven mitts – they are not needed to
make these yummy creations! The cookbook focuses on sandwiches, snacks, salads,
dressings, desserts and drinks that kids can make 100% by themselves. Each recipe
is broken down by tools needed (bowls, measuring spoons, etc.), ingredients and
any grown-up prep that is required. There are pictures of the tools,
ingredients and the step-by-step instructions which is really what makes this a
book that older children can use on their own to create meals and desserts they
can be proud of.
I absolutely love this cookbook and I am using some of the recipes at
Cooking Club in the library. Many of the recipes are
simple and not the most healthiest of choices (Ex: Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich with
Sprinkles: place ice cream in between two cookies and roll the edges of the
cookies into the sprinkles) but they will give children a sense of satisfaction
that they can make snacks for themselves. The introduction of the book teaches
proper cooking etiquette (wash your hands, ties back long hair, listen to grownups
in charge) and lists items that are most commonly found in the pantry and
fridge. The index is ingredients not names of salads or sandwiches so if one
has a plethora of crackers in their house this is a way to get ideas of how to
get rid of them! I cannot wait to post the pictures of the creations made at
the library using this book!
