School Library Journal Review
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 (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
These cookbooks feature kid-friendly treats such as caramel corn, pizza, tacos, and smoothies. Each starts with cooking basics then outlines tools, ingredients, and techniques. Though some of the type is small and the symbols confusing, the easy-to-follow recipes are illustrated with photographs of many of the steps and the finished product. Variations and ""Even Cooler!"" enhancements are included. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Checkerboard How-To Library: Cool Cooking titles: Cool Cuisine for Super Sleepovers, Cool Foods for Fun Fiestas, Cool Lunches to Make & Take, Cool Meals to Start Your Wheels, Cool Pizza to Make & Bake, and Cool Sweets & Treats to Eat.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
