Featuring holiday and pop culture themes, sweet and savory delights from around the world, and more fun recipes, these cookbooks have much to offer budding chefs. 

AGOSTINI, Alliah L. with Taffy Elrod. The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate. illus. by Sawyer Cloud. 72p. becker&mayer! kids. Apr. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780760385791.
Gr 1-5–Agostini has written multiple books about Juneteenth, and her expertise shines in these pages. The book opens with a nice explainer about the holiday, noting that while the celebration of Emancipation had been observed for over 150 years, it only became a federal holiday in 2021. Throughout the book, readers follow a little girl named Alliah and her grandparents as they prepare for their Juneteenth festivities. Chapters focus on drinks, appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts, with interspersed sections about the history and symbolism of certain foods, suggested field trips to areas that have special significance around the holiday, playlists, and games. Cloud’s artwork is a gorgeous accompaniment to Agostini’s recipes, bursting with a summery wholesomeness. Each recipe is given a full-page illustration and portrayed in vibrant, appetizing colors. Ingredients are healthy, inexpensive, and widely available. Of note is Agostini’s collaboration with a professional chef, Elrod, ensuring that this is not merely a Juneteenth book that happens to contain a few recipes, but rather a rich and full cookbook honoring a deeply meaningful celebration of freedom. VERDICT A beautiful collection of recipes marking an important national holiday, highly recommended for school and public libraries.–Kate Newcombe

ATHERTON, David. David Atherton’s Christmas Cookbook for Kids. illus. by Katie Cottle. 72p. (Bake, Make and Learn to Cook). Candlewick. Sept. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781536234398.
Gr 2-5–Atherton’s (The Great British Baking Show) latest leans heavily toward desserts. There are chapters for sweets and edible gifts, party food, Christmas cakes and cookies, and festive showstoppers, with a few savory recipes in the mix. Cottle’s illustrations are warm and whimsical, depicting children with a variety of skin tones and physical abilities engaging in holiday fun. The choice to forgo photography in favor of illustrations feels fittingly quaint and cozy, and each recipe includes step-by-step drawings of the cooking process. Of the 30 recipes included, most require at least a passing familiarity with simple baking techniques like measuring ingredients and rolling out dough. Attention is paid to safety in the kitchen and readers are encouraged to ask for adult help when necessary. Ingredients called for are widely available and generally inexpensive. There is a certain elegant simplicity to this book that beautifully conveys the tastes and smells of a British Christmas. VERDICT A charming, approachable cookbook that evokes the spirit of the holiday season.–Kate Newcombe

ChopChop I Made This Breakfast!: My Very First Cookbook. illus. by Danielle Mudd. photos by Carl Tremblay. 24p. Cottage Door Pr. Apr. 2024. Board $8.99. ISBN 9781646389896.
PreS-Gr 1–ChopChop Family (“a national nonprofit organization that uses food and cooking to help children and their adults build fundamental life skills”) introduces simple recipes relating to breakfast in this board book. Along with recipes, there is a section on “before you start” that includes washing hands and preparing the kitchen and ingredients before beginning any recipe. Each recipe spread includes a photo ingredients list that adds them up like a math problem on one side; on the other are simple instructions with no more than three or four steps. Bright, colorful photos show the final products as well as children of various ethnicities enjoying their breakfast. Definitions of some of the ingredients are included, with a full glossary at the end. Among the recipes are Yogurt and Granola, Mashed Egg on Toast, and Mashed Avocado on a Tortilla. VERDICT A must-buy for board book collections, the inclusive look and easy recipes allow young children to have a hand in family meals and snacks.–Molly Dettmann

DAHL, Roald. Marvelously Revolting Recipes. illus. by Quentin Blake & others. photos by Jan Baldwin. 144p. Viking. Aug. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593525012.
Gr 2-5–This delightfully gruesome collection of recipes, inspired by the writing of Roald Dahl and featuring art from a variety of well-known children’s illustrators, includes 26 new dishes and a dozen from previous editions of the “Revolting Recipes” books. With everything from Whoopsey Splunkers to Scarlet Scorchdroppers, these treats will elicit a spark of recognition from Dahl fans as they peruse the book. Illustrations are a pastiche of art and photography, and splash joyfully across the pages, making this a real feast for the eyes. On the topic of feasting: while some of the recipes are straightforward and appealing, others are more befitting of the title (anyone care for prawns in rice paper, billed as “Earwigs cooked in slime”?). Some of the ingredients are less common, and at least a few of the recipes lean more toward fantasy than something that a young cook could successfully pull off; but there is so much fun to be had here that this feels like a small price to pay. VERDICT A book that lives up to its title, recommended for school and public libraries with a Dahl fanbase.–Kate Newcombe

GADZEKPO, Darryl & Ella Phillips. From Plant to Plate: Turn Home-Grown Ingredients into Healthy Meals! illus. by Alan Berry Rhys. 96p. DK. May 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780744096996.
Gr 2-5–A worthy addition to the DK canon, this cookbook is half recipes and half information about the inextricable link between food and the environment. The authors explain that the objective is to help readers understand where their food comes from and how it connects us to the planet. Each page is bright, cheerful, and visually appealing, a lush combination of color photography and illustration. The first portion features spreads on planting, composting, biodiversity, growing conditions, and lots of nutritional information, all presented by the book’s “bug squad”—a group of cute cartoon insects who act as guides and provide fun facts throughout. The second portion highlights about 20 healthy recipes that can be made with foods that readers have just learned how to grow, from pesto to hummus to granola. Some of the ingredients are on the obscure side, but the value of this book far outweighs such concerns. VERDICT A lovely, highly informative tool for learning about how food is grown, the value in healthy eating, and how to respect the environment while also taking care of one’s body, this farm-to-table offering is highly recommended for school and public libraries.–Kate Newcombe

GRANOF, Victoria & others. The Crafter’s Kitchen: An Official Minecraft Cookbook for Young Chefs and Their Families. photos by Nivi Shaham. 160p. Random House Worlds. Mar. 2024. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780593579923.
Gr 2-6–Based on the enduringly popular video game Minecraft , this is a cookbook with a bit of a different format. Chapters are based on various Minecraft biomes (regions), such as rivers, jungles, and mountains, and roughly translate into appetizers, sides, mains, drinks, and desserts. There is a heavy environmental emphasis throughout: chapters begin with a few pages about different regions on Earth and the ecological threats that loom over them. Readers are encouraged to be stewards of the planet and are offered concrete suggestions to further that goal. As the book points out, here on Earth we can’t generate a new world the way that one can in the Minecraft universe. The recipes are generally healthy and made with easy-to-find ingredients that won’t break the bank. Directions are simple and easy to understand, with short sidebars supplying further information about the ingredients and techniques. Full-page color photos are interspersed with scenes from the game, and a character introduced as “the Gourmand” serves as a guide. Fans, eternally in search of more, will enjoy this offering. VERDICT Recommended for school and public libraries with a persistent Minecraft following.–Kate Newcombe

HOWARD, Joy. The Disney Christmas Cookbook: 50 Delicious Recipes! photos by Joe St. Pierre. 144p. Disney. Oct. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781368074971.
Gr 1-5–This cozy seasonal cookbook is separated into chapters for breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, snacks, beverages, and sweets. Measuring techniques, food handling, and clean-up are thoroughly addressed at the beginning of the book, and safety is discussed throughout. Any recipe that requires heat is prefaced with a reminder to ask an adult for help. Each recipe is tied to a Disney film and accompanied by an attractive, full-page photograph of the dish. Readers will enjoy the cheerful illustrations depicting their favorite characters celebrating the holiday, and with 50 different recipes, there are a lot of characters seen here! A key at the end highlights, chapter by chapter, which recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan, and vegetarian, and also notes possible substitutions. A reasonable amount of adult supervision would be required for some of these recipes, particularly those from the dinner chapter. Like most cookbooks, there will be recipes that not every reader can master immediately, but there are plenty of accessible goodies here for beginners to attempt. VERDICT A warm and festive holiday tie-in with recipes for many skill levels, recommended for school and public libraries.–Kate Newcombe

KWONG, Stacey & Beyah del Mundo. Kawaii Café Bubble Tea: Classic, Fun, and Refreshing Boba Drinks to Make at Home. illus. by Yidi Xiong. 128p. Rock Point. Jan. 2024. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9781631069888.
Gr 5 Up–This bubble tea cookbook features about 50 different recipes for boba/bubble teas, fruit teas, milk teas, specialty drinks, and more from the co-founders of boba shop MILK+T. The book opens with a page about the origin of boba and bubble tea. There are illustrations of the ingredients, equipment, and toppings needed throughout that are brightly colored and cartoonlike. The book starts with a section about boba basics that includes how-to foundations for making each beverage, and the authors also include vignettes with their own personal experience and advice for making these recipes from their years of being bubble tea fans. Recipes include UnBEElievable Wildflower Honey Green Tea, Pink Panda Sip ‘n’ Dips, and Almond Butter Milk Tea. In the back matter there is an index of terms to find pages by ingredient or recipe type. With help from an adult, younger readers could make some of the recipes; but with several steps for each one and the use of hot water along with heavy equipment such as blenders, this is best for older, semi-independent young cooks. VERDICT An additional purchase for upper elementary and middle school cookbook collections.–Molly Dettmann

MARSHMELLO. Cooking with Marshmello: Recipes with a Remix. photos by Noah Fecks & others. 192p. DK. Nov. 2023. Tr $29.99. ISBN 9780744084030.
Gr 5 Up–Music producer/DJ Marshmello may not be the first person to come to mind as a cookbook author, but he has credentials: a million-plus followers for his “Cooking with Marshmello” YouTube channel. In the introduction he explains that food, like music, is a powerful way to connect with people around the world, and his love of cooking feels sincere. Billed as “recipes with a remix,” the book encourages readers to put their own spin on things; a great way to empower young cooks. The recipes are fun and funky, leaning toward the junk food end of the spectrum. Being a DK title, this is a well-done volume: QR codes are scattered throughout, leading to information about topics like kitchen techniques, more information about the recipes, and of course, the ultimate playlist. The photography is vivid and color-saturated, and each dish gets a full-page glam shot. The skill level is fairly advanced; this book could easily be enjoyed by adults as well. Readers need not be Marshmello fans in order to appreciate this one. VERDICT A large collection of innovative, experimental recipes, recommended for middle and high school libraries.–Kate Newcombe

PARKER, Jean & Rachel Smith. Baking Wonderland: A Mix & Match Cookbook for Kids! illus. by Angela Chao. photos by Reena Newman. 224p. Appetite by Random House. Nov. 2023. Tr $24.95. ISBN 9780525612247.
Gr 3-6–Readers enter a baking wonderland with recipes to bake sweet treats from donuts to cakes with ingredients new and traditional for everyday delectable dishes. What makes this baking book different from others is that it is organized like an amusement park. Parker and Smith introduce baking with an “informational booth” section, which includes the basics of kneading, how to read recipe notes such as substitution ingredient options and gluten-free adjustments, as well as the kitchen tools needed to get started, how to glaze a donut, and cupcake decorating. Recipes are broken up by sections, including cookies (as in Cookieland), cupcakes, cakes, and donuts, and also include recipes for fillings, frostings, glazes, and milks in-between. Each recipe includes a spread with a picture of the dish against a bright background, with the tools and ingredients needed. The subsequent pages feature the baking steps, including options to adjust the dish or try a different filling/glaze/frosting. Also included in the steps are call-outs for when a young baker should “find their person” to complete a step. The back matter features a list of equipment, tools, and an ingredient glossary, as well as an index. VERDICT Recommended for school libraries for its whimsical presentation of delicious treats.–Molly Dettmann

PEREZ, Rossini. Kids in the Kitchen: 70+ Fun Recipes for Young Chefs to Stir Up! photos by Erin Scott. 192p. Rock Point. Apr. 2024. spiral $19.99. ISBN 9781631069499.
Gr 3-6–This collection for young cooks and chefs breaks down the recipes by breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, and smoothies/fruit juices. Before getting into the delicious and delectable, Perez’s thorough introduction includes kitchen rules, safety, tool and equipment must-haves, a glossary, ingredient prepping, meat cooking times, and more. The recipes are organized with spreads of ingredients needed, cook times, and directions on one side and organized in a table/bulleted lists, and then a full-color photo of the plates on the other. Some recipes have options to adjust with different ingredients in the following spreads. The recipes include many kid-friendly meals, such as Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Bombs, Easy Tomato Soup, Black Bean Tacos, Zucchini Fries, and more. Interspersed among recipes are features with fun food-themed facts, history, and trivia. VERDICT A must-buy for libraries serving aspiring chefs and their grown-ups wanting to start family cooking traditions. The layout and emphasized introduction to kitchen safety and preparedness make this a worthy addition to collections.–Molly Dettmann

Sesame Street Let’s Cook Together: With 40 Fun, Healthy Recipes. photos by Nigel Wright. 128p. DK. Aug. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780744098914.
PreS-Gr 2–The title of this beginner-friendly book sets the tone for its collaborative and empowering spirit. From the beginning, simplicity is the name of the game: there is information about food safety, nutrition, kitchen tools, and basic cooking skills, all presented in large text and straightforward language. Chapters focus on breakfasts, snacks, dinners, lunches, and treats, with 40 recipes in total. While a few recipes are character-specific (like the blueberry Super Grover Smoothie), most are included because they are easy, healthful, and would be fun for a child and their caregiver to work on together. Each one is accompanied by a bright, full-page photo of the finished product, and the book also boasts plenty of appearances from favorite characters such as Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, and Zoe. There is a friendliness and ease of use that is in keeping with the gentle tone of a Sesame Street episode, including a thoughtful section on the benefits of cooking with children, stressing the learning opportunities to be found when working together in the kitchen. A two-page glossary nicely rounds out this introduction to cooking. VERDICT Sesame Street fans and novice chefs will find much to appreciate in this collection of easy recipes.–Kate Newcombe

WHEATLEY, Abigail. World Kitchen: A Children’s Cookbook; Family Recipes from Around the World. illus. by Chaaya Prabhat. 64p. Usborne. Mar. 2024. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781805071136.
Gr 2-5–This is a beautiful and wide-ranging collection of cherished recipes contributed by real families from around the globe. Each recipe is introduced by a child from a different region, explaining their fondness for the dish and expanding on its cultural origins. A helpful “recipe map” shows the children in the locations from which they hail. Prabhat’s illustrations are a huge selling point. They are truly lovely, filling each page with life, color, and a sense of place. The families are depicted in their homes, so readers get a glimpse at local dwellings and clothing. All the recipes are vegetarian and there is a chapter with instructions for how to make each one vegan, nut-free, gluten-free, egg-free, or dairy-free. Given that this is a global cookbook there are a few instances of harder-to-find ingredients, but the components called for are generally ones that could be located at most grocery stores. From Ghanaian black-eyed peas to German jam cookies, there are about 20 recipes here that celebrate food from around the world. VERDICT A visually delightful take on global food, recommended for school and public libraries.–Kate Newcombe