There are a surprisingly large number of cookbooks for children available at libraries and bookstores. After looking through a great many children's cookbooks, I found some cookbooks for kids that I think are especially good. They are well designed, provide information in a clear sequential manner and many provide photographs or sketches for each recipe. You may be surprised at how eager your kids are to learn to cook and how helpful they can be when they have a good cookbook to follow.
1. Simply in Season Children's Cookbook
Herald Press
Simply in Season Children's Cookbook is a beautifully designed and well-organized, by season, cookbook. This family cookbook is based on the premise that children will be more apt to eat something if they have grown it themselves. The information about vegetables and herbs, the easy-to-follow recipes and the accompanying color photos make this cookbook one the whole family will enjoy using. Herald Press published the cookbook in 2006. The ISBN is 9780836193367. Read my review of Simply in Season Children's Cookbook.
2. Children's Cookbooks Based on Favorite Children's Books
Adams Media
These children's cookbooks all contain recipes based on foods mentioned in favorite children's books. These include children's cookbooks based on Dr. Seuss stories, the Boxcar Children mysteries, the Little House books, the Harry Potter series, books by Roald Dahl and more. Find out more with my annotated list of recommended children's cookbooks based on children's books.
3. Kids in the Holiday Kitchen
Chronicle Books
If you are looking for a good children's cookbook for you and your kids to use during the holiday season, I recommend Kids in the Holiday Kitchen. It starts with kitchen safety information and includes recipes for meals, desserts and snacks, as well as directions for a variety of craft activities, some of which are related to Christmas or Hanukkah. You can use this book to plan a children's baking and crafts party, to teach your children about cooking and sharing homemade gifts, and for family craft activities. The publisher is Chronicle Books. The cookbook was published in 2007. The ISBN is 9780811861397. Read my review of Kids in the Holiday Kitchen.
4. The United States Cookbook
PriceGrabber
As the subtitle states, this children’s cookbook contains recipes for “Fabulous Food and Fascinating Facts from All 50 States.” For each state, there’s a map, illustrations of several state symbols, information about the state, fun food facts about the state, plus a recipe related to the state. Recipes include key lime pie from Florida and Swedish meatballs from Minnesota. The cookbook also contains sections on cooking skills and safety rules. (John Wiley & Sons, 2000. ISBN: 9780471358398)
5. Kids' Baking
Subtitled 60 Delicious Recipes for Children to Make, this cookbook by Sara Lewis is easy to follow, has lots of colorful photos and some interesting recipes. The book is designed for parents and young children. Photos of children preparing each recipe accompany the step-by-step instructions. There is also a large photograph of the end result for each recipe. After the first section on kitchen rules, tools and getting started, there are six sections of recipes: little cakes, cookies, cut-and-come-again cakes, traybakes, cakes to impress and breads. Many of the recipes, while tasty treats, are also healthy snacks. Recipes include: double berry muffins, apricot and white chocolate cookies, granola munchies, tropical fruit cake and herb and sun-dried tomato bread. (Octopus Publishing, 2013. ISBN: 9780600625162)6. Cookbook - Emeril's There's A Chef in My Soup!
HarperCollins
Chef Emeril's cookbook for kids and families is subtitled "Recipes for the Kid in Everyone." The book's clever illustrations, which incorporate photos of Emeril's face, create a mood of fun. The first 30 pages of the 242-page cookbook cover kitchen rules, tools, and safety. Then there are recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus special sections on pizza and pasta, vegetables, salads and desserts. Recipes range from Sweet Potato-Praline Marshmallow Casserole to Lean Mean Turkey Loaf. (HarperCollins, 2005. ISBN: 9780688177065)
7. Salad People and More Real Recipes: A New Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up
The 20 recipes focusing on fruits and vegetables include Salad People, Tiny Tacos, and Counting Soup. Each recipe features quotations from preschoolers, safety tips, and a detailed recipe, followed by two pages of small drawings illustrating each step. This is a terrific cookbook to use to introduce children who are not yet old enough to read to the joys of healthy eating. Author Mollie Katzen also wrote “Pretend Soup” and “Moosewood Cookbook.” (Tricycle Press, 2005. ISBN: 9781582461410)8. The Silver Spoon for Children: Favorite Italian Recipes
The sophisticated design and the tasty easy-to-follow recipes will make this cookbook a favorite with adults as well as children ages 9-12 and teens. The cookbook is adapted from The Silver Spoon, a cookbook for adults that has been the bestselling cookbook in Italy for more than 50 years. After information on cooking safety, equipment and utensils, the cookbook is divided into 4 sections: Lunches and Snacks, Pasta and Pizza, Main Courses, Desserts and Baking. The numbered steps make the recipes easy to follow, as do the illustrations and photographs. (Phaidon Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780714857565)9. Children's Quick & Easy Cookbook
For each recipe, DK Publishing's cookbook includes photos of all of the ingredients, as well as photos of each step in the preparations and a photo of the finished product. This book is particularly good for visual learners and children who are not yet reading fluently. It includes kitchen rules, recipes for snacks, meals, and sweets, and a picture glossary. In addition to American favorites, there are recipes for Chinese, French, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and North African dishes.
