Easy-Peasy Recipes

PreS-Gr 3–This cookbook is designed to give the youngest chefs independence in the kitchen through 13 assembly (but no cooking required) recipes. Each one is free of stove, oven, and sharp knives, though some require adult prep work such as cooking spaghetti or shredding carrots. Kids as young as preschool age can do the bulk of the work with safety scissors, plastic knives, spoons, and other easy-to-use kitchen tools. “Princess FruitSalad” and “Captain TacoSalad” are among the kid-friendly recipes, all of which have between three and nine ingredients and are heavy on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The concept of creating independent young cooks is fantastic, but the reality is that once children are old enough to read the directions and follow them, they will be ready for more of a culinary challenge. The illustrations are colorful and fun, but are overwhelming as there is a lot going on, creating distractions and sometimes confusion, such as the illustration in the “Easy-Peasy Cheesy Popcorn” recipe that shows unpopped kernels when the recipe calls for popped corn. The layout of the step-by-step instructions varies from recipe to recipe, making it difficult to follow along. For kid-friendly and delicious recipes, stick with Mollie Katzen’s Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes (Tricycle Press, 1994).–Heather Acerro, Rochester Public Library, MN