The Big, Fun Kids Cookbook

March 15, 2020
Grades 3-7 The Food Network has launched countless young people on the path to becoming chefs. In this covered, spiral-bound cookbook (making countertop use easier), the editors of the Food Network Magazine give all children an opportunity to explore their inner foodie. A visual index kicks off the book, which is then divided into color-coded sections on breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, dessert, and fake-out cakes. The 150-plus recipes are simple to follow, with many basic ingredients, and several allow variations for users to experiment according to their personal taste. While the dishes comprise many kid-friendly favorites, like waffles, pizza, and cupcakes, there are also fun, healthy alternatives, such as melon fries, spaghetti squash, and ants on a log remix. Large color photos of the finished dishes; helpful tips; Did You Know? facts (e.g., waffles inspired Nike's first running shoe); and food quizzes keep the text even more engaging. With recipes for cakes that look like cheeseburgers, mac and cheese, giant s'mores, and more, the final section may be reason enough to purchase this delightful cookbook.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from May 1, 2020

Gr 3-7-This engaging cookbook for young people is packed with recipes. Retro endpapers that feature white kitchen tools and food against a bright blue background will instantly grab readers' attention. From the spiral binding to the brightly color-coded section pages, this book is designed to be functional and accessible. A visual recipe index at the beginning of the book provides a miniature photograph of each completed dish with the recipe's name and the corresponding page number. Every recipe's page shows a large color photograph and a "tip" or a fun fact about the food. Many of the recipes offer "design-your-own" options to circumvent picky eaters and spark creativity, such as the chicken salad, stuffed French toast, and fruit and veggie fries. The recipes are a combination of classic kid-friendly cuisine (chicken fingers and pizza) and more adventurous fare (Chinese meatball sliders and Cuban beef pockets). The book also contains games, food quizzes, and a miniature coloring book. The dust jacket is a poster to guide young cooks who want to earn their "Junior Chef Certificate." The text, from the introduction letter to the recipes themselves, may require younger readers to ask for adult help, as it is not aimed specifically at the younger set. Some steps require multiple tools and processes. VERDICT This accessible and visually stunning cookbook will delight and inspire home cooks of all ages and get families cooking together.-Shannon O'Connor, Unami Middle School, Chalfont, PA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 18, 2020
This thoroughly enjoyable cookbook from the editors of Food Network Magazine presents over 150 recipes “that any kid can make.” There are some recipes that young home cooks (ages 8–12) can prepare with minimal adult supervision, such as one of the six variations of Ants on a Log, as well as others that will require help from an adult, such as the giant s’mores cake, which requires the use of a kitchen torch. In addition to several kids’ favorites like mac and cheese, and creative riffs such as French toast muffins, there are several “design your own recipe” sections that encourage readers to create their own variations of basic staples, such as granola bars. The recipes are simple to follow with easy-to-find ingredients and plenty of valuable tips (“Split English muffins in half with a fork... so you’ll end up with good nooks and crannies”). Alongside the recipes are dozens of facts (“There are 10,000 varieties of grapes in the world,” they write next to a recipe for candied grapes), food trivia quizzes, and coloring pages that are bound to spark enthusiasm. This is an exceptional introduction to cooking that children and even novice adult home cooks will enjoy.