Ballerina Cookbook

Gr 2—6—An elegant and beautifully arranged cookbook of desserts and drinks. The recipes are organized into four sections: "Ballerina Basics," "The Nutcracker," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Swan Lake." The recipes have "ballerina" names that for the most part describe the dish; however, some are more ambiguous. For example, "Christmas Eve Treats" are cupcakes with buttercream frosting and pomegranate seeds. The overall layout is appealing with the recipe on one page and a luscious, full-page picture on the other. The recipe page includes serving amounts and ingredients in a narrow column and the directions on the other side of the page. Recipes range from the quick and easy "Fairy-Tale Fantasy" (melting chocolates over popcorn) to "Swan Lake Homemade Marshmallows," which take two days to prepare. Despite the differences in difficulty, all recipes require adult assistance or supervision. Cooking terms and measurements are not explained. The recipes are perfect for a party or a tasty treat any day of the week.—Samantha Larsen Hastings, Riverton Library, UT