A Review of Children's Cookbooks
Written by Keeley Drotz, RD, CD of HealthCastle.com
Published in February 2009
(HealthCastle.com) Teaching children to cook can be stressful. With the right cookbook, however, it can be fun. Below are our reviews of some of the best cookbooks for kids.
Kids' Fun and Healthy Cookbook: Over 100 Step-by-Step Recipes by Nicola Graimes (DK Publishing, 2007; Hardcover)
Written for: 9- to 12-year-olds
 Written by an award-winning food writer and mother, and packed with information. - 50 healthy recipes consisting of unique dishes as well as familiar ones, including: Breakfast Tortillas, Colorful (Tofu) Kebabs, and Banana and Pineapple Cake.
- Focuses on health and nutrition, and demonstrates that eating healthfully can be fun and tasty. Contains tips about food, nutrition, and cooking - plus fun facts - throughout.
- In addition to basic information, the introduction discusses the nutritional significance of fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates, protein foods, and fats and sugars.
- Easy-to-follow recipes with step-by-step instructions, each with a corresponding photo of the completed dish. Preparation and cooking times are specified.
- Kid- and family-friendly; very engaging for younger/elementary-aged children.
- Chapters: Introduction; Breakfasts; Light Meals; Main Meals; Desserts; Baking
Kitchen for Kids: 100 Amazing Recipes Your Children Can Really Make by Jennifer Low (Whitecap Books, 2004; Paperback)
Written for: 4- to 11-year-olds
 Author is a mom of young children who has created recipes that are truly "child-friendly" - no sharp knives, stove, or small electric appliances required. (The oven and microwave are used.) - 100 kid-tested recipes created for children to prepare virtually on their own, such as Tuna Fish Patties, One-Potato-Two Bread, and Caramel Cookie Squares. Recipes produce small batches, which are easier for kids to work with.
- Pictures are few, but photos of completed recipes are interspersed throughout.
- The design and layout seem more appropriate for adolescent girls and women.
- Sections: Organizing the Kitchen for Kids; Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner; Breads and Crackers; Cookies; Cakes; Pies, Pastries, and Squares; Candies, Confections, and Cool Treats
The Everything Kids' Cookbook: From Mac 'N Cheese to Double Chocolate Chip Cookies by Sandra K. Nissenberg, MS, RD (Adams Media Corporation, 2008; Paperback)
Written for: 9- to 12-year-olds
 Written by a Registered Dietitian (nutrition expert) who is a child nutrition specialist as well as a mom, so the book is full of great expert information.
- 85 recipes, including Make-a-Face Sandwich, Bag of Bagel Chips, and Banana Split Ice Cream Pie.
- Thorough introduction contains a section on nutrition.
- Kitchen and food safety are emphasized; and cooking tips, food trivia, and games/puzzles are found throughout.
- Recipes indicate level of difficulty (easy, medium, hard).
- Little visual appeal: there are no photos or color, and the design and layout tend to be "busy" and distracting.
- Chapters: Let's Get Cooking; Wake Up to a Good Breakfast; Lunches, Sandwiches, and Brown Bag Ideas; Snack Time; Soothing Soups; What's for Dinner?; Desserts and Special Treats; Smoothies and Beverages; Let's Play Some More
Williams-Sonoma - The Kid's Cookbook: A Great Book for Kids Who Love to Cook! by Abigail Johnson Dodge (Oxmoor House, 2000; Hardcover, Spiral-bound)
Written for: 9-year-olds and above
 Author is a culinary instructor, pastry chef, and mother.
- Nearly 50 recipes, including: Veggie Wraps, Oven-Baked Carrot Fries, Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches, plus "Super-Easy" recipes that use few ingredients and are easy to prepare.
- Besides general information, the introduction includes a "Here's How" section that explains "the basics," such as shredding cheese, zesting lemons, chopping herbs, and cutting together butter and flour - each with a corresponding photo.
- A photo of the final product accompanies each recipe.
- Appealing to tweens and teens.
- Sections: Introduction/"Here's How"; Breakfast and Lunch; Snacks; Main Courses and Side Dishes; Desserts
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The Bottom Line
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Regardless of the cookbook you choose or the age and cooking abilities of your child, an adult should always supervise and help while children are cooking.
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