Easy Recipes for Kids to Cook: Easy Recipes for Kids to Cook
July 1, 2007
Gr 4-6-Each of these thematic cookbooks is intended to teach children the basics. Young chefs are urged to ask permission before they cook, be organized, work safely, and be neat. There are also useful discussions of measurements, kitchen tools, terminology, ingredients, and an "Allergy Alert." The general instruction pages and the eight or so recipes that follow are written in clear, informal prose and illustrated with bright, sharp color photographs. The bindings and covers have a glossy finish for easy cleanup. Some dishes are simple and could easily be made by the target audience without much adult assistance. Others are more involved. Icons in the text suggest when help may be needed. The finished dishes are, if not spectacular, at least tasty. All of the ingredients are easily obtainable. A few of the recipes, especially those in "Cool Foods", are quite high in fat (e.g., the one for enchiladas calls for five cups of grated Cheddar cheese). Bobbie Kalman's "Lunch Munch" and "Breakfast Blast" (both Crabtree, 2003) have more health-conscious recipes. Although Wagner's books are a bit pricey for the number of recipes they contain, they offer a well-rounded (albeit repetitious), kid-friendly introduction to basic cooking."Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT"
Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.