The Big, Fun Kids Cookbook: 150+ Recipes for Young Chefs

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.