Delish: The How-To Cookbook for Young Foodies (Saltz) ©2025 Hearst Home Kids

Aniston, Jennifer. Cook with Clydeo: A Cookbook for Kids. illus. by Invisible Universe, Inc. 128p. HarperCollins. Sept. 2025. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780063372382.
Gr 5 Up–Aniston has been a household name for since the 1990s, and cooking connoisseurs may already be familiar with the character based on Aniston’s rescue dog, Clyde, from the picture book, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life, and YouTube cooking videos. Clydeo organizes his cookbook by breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks/sides, desserts, and of course, one dog treat. It is definitely a plus that meals are designed to be weeknight-friendly for busy tweens. This book lacks ratings for beginner, intermediate, or advanced, especially for the crepes, and does not note that in some cases, adults should be supervising. Aniston explains some cuisine-related terms like mise en place and jus, but not definitions of ramekin, roux, and sayings like “la dolce vita.” “Clyde’s Tips and Tricks” and paw print notes have recipe suggestions with substitutions or additions. The book has a growth mindset about being kind to yourself when making mistakes, taking time to practice learning new skills, and asking for help. Aniston adds campy humor about lunch being sandwiched between courses, and cute puppyisms like how funfetti cookies are belly rubs for the soul. VERDICT Perfect nostalgia fodder for parents who loved Friends, offering a way to bond with kids over cooking and pups.–Laura Dooley-Taylor

The Big, Fun Book of Fake-Out Cakes: 75+ Great Recipes. 176p. Hearst Home Kids. Sept. 2025. Tr $25. ISBN 9781958395592.
Gr 5 Up–The editors of the Food Network Magazine serve up another hit with this fake-out cakes recipe book. Divided into chapters featuring fake-out snacks, fake-out dinners, fake-out sweets, theme cakes, and fun cupcakes, along with batters and frosting recipes, the book offers something for everyone looking to make a cake that resembles a food other than cake. Included are 45 different recipes each with a full-page color photograph, required ingredients, and six to nine thumbnails of each step for creating the fake-out cake. Preparation time, total time, and serving size are also included. Missing from the first page of each recipe are supplies needed to complete the bake; that is found in smaller print underneath the thumbnail photos of the step-by-step directions. It will be necessary for teens to read the directions thoroughly before beginning a bake to ensure adequate supplies are available. The table of contents highlights thumbnail images of the completed cakes, along with the page number the recipe can be found on. Most cake recipes begin with a boxed cake mix, frozen pound cake, or ice cream, and then instructions for modifying the size and shape using various kitchen tools and adding in, say, candies, fondant, or buttercream. Piping of frosting, using a kitchen torch, and nontraditional baking bowls are required for some recipes. A complete index is found at the back of the book. Recipe difficulty varies, but most will require some adult assistance. VERDICT Creatively rendered fake-out cakes and cupcakes will delight bakers and eaters alike. Purchase is recommended for libraries that want to inspire creative bakers.–Tracy Cronce

Gallagher, Cayla. Ghost Food: 75 Spooky, Fun, and Frightening Halloween-Inspired Sweet Treats. 200p. (Whimsical Treats). S. & S./Skyhorse. Aug. 2025. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781510782617.
Gr 4 Up–This collection of ghoulish treats, which is the latest in the “Whimsical Treats” series, includes 75 recipes organized into five thematic sections with a photograph of the finished product for each recipe. Apart from a dozen or so recipes that are beginner friendly (Pumpkin Snickerdoodles and Halloween Rice Krispie Treats), most of the recipes are aimed at advanced bakers with a keen interest in decorating their creations. Many recipes have multiple components or phases, including more expert decorating techniques. Adult assistance may be required. Young bakers may know Gallagher from her YouTube channel, pankobunny, a cooking show with weekly tutorials and an emphasis on making food cute. Libraries that circulate baking pans or items as part of a library of things may want to promote their existing collection and potentially add a few more items to pair with this book (for example, a number of cake recipes require three six-inch baking pans, and an assortment of silicone molds are required for others). A metric conversion chart is included. VERDICT An attractive addition to collections serving youth prepared for a baking and decorating challenge—and for adult helpers willing to embrace the process and mess.–Rachel Hitt

Kartes, Danielle. The Best Kids Cookbook: 60 Fun and Simple Recipes to Get Kids Cooking. illus. by Brooke O’Neill. 160p. HarperCollins/Tommy Nelson. Aug. 2025. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781400251100.
Gr 5 Up–Kartes, best known for appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Today Show, divides this bookinto breakfast, lunch, dinner, dips, snacks, side dishes, and treats. Icons designate gluten-free, use of the stove, sharp tools, recipes with substitutions, or places where readers can skip spicy items. Packing this with subtle puns, the author adds some whimsy to savory dishes that are surprisingly easy to construct. Cooking tips are noted for chefs to have support, be adventurous, and plan ahead before attempting a recipe. Tips, especially about not overmixing pancake batter and how to pinch, splash, and dash, are essential for any chef, especially beginners. This book takes time to explain a lot of cooking nuances that other cookbooks neglect, like kitchen terms and how to multiply recipes. There are no ratings for easy, intermediate, or advanced. Bold chefs will be curious to try “spicy watermelon fries with chili powder,” but they may hesitate over the generational staple, a fried bologna sandwich. VERDICT This book challenges teens to step out of their comfort zone with diverse spices, working with seafood, and tricky recipes, simplified but not condescending.–Laura Dooley-Taylor

Kingsley, Lisa & Jennifer Peterson. PAC-MAN: The Official Cookbook. 160p. Insight Eds. May 2025. Tr $29.99. ISBN 9798886637519.
Gr 6 Up–Waka Waka! Pac-Man has been a widely popular video game since its inception in the late 1970s, and now Kingsley and Peterson have written a colorful, fun, and delicious cookbook based on the game. An introduction provides the history of the game’s formation, and over 60 recipes follow, each being a nod to a Pac-Man move, character, or gameplay. Each recipe is marked with a skill level, which gamers will appreciate, along with dietary considerations including Vegan, Gluten-free, Dairy-Free, and Vegetarian. The table of contents highlights Pac-Man-themed chapters, such as “A-Maze-Ing Side Dishes,” “High-Scoring Sides,” and “Game-Over Desserts.” Each full-page recipe has a catchy title, full-color large photograph, clear instructions, and special tips. The diversity of recipes will appeal to most palates; older children can help adults create their favorite game-themed dishes, though most adolescent readers will need assistance. VERDICT Parents, caregivers, and teachers will enjoy a scrumptious trip down memory lane while showing younger generations the fun and joy of Pac-Man.–Michele Shaw

Platt, Michael. Cooking Up Change: Grandma’s Recipes from a Year in Black History. illus. by Alleanna Harris. 40p. Magic Cat. May 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781419778889.
Gr 4 Up–This work is part historical text and part cookbook wherein notable teen chef Platt pays homage to both Black historical figures and his own grandmother. The cookbook is sectioned into months of the year, each featuring a significant holiday or event accompanied by a Black trailblazer and a recipe from Grandma Sarah. Readers will learn facts about Black history not often taught in schools, for example, that A. Phillip Randolph established the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids for passenger train workers, which became the first Black union to be chartered by the American Federation of Labor. In tandem are notable dishes to be enjoyed by everyone. Each event is described in small paragraphs dotted across colorful full-page spreads, with the corresponding historical figure set in the foreground and the recipe set in a colorful column at the end of each entry. Back matter includes a glossary, short biographies of the historical figures mentioned, and a further reading list. Food and history go hand-in-hand with culture, which is powerfully demonstrated with Harris’s digital illustrations of the trailblazers, Black people in action based on the description of the historical moment, and of course the recipe itself. Each recipe is complete with thorough ingredients and instructions without detracting from the historical component or the artwork. VERDICT Foodies and history buffs will enjoy this attractive cookbook filled with both recipes and facts about favorite foods and notable Black icons in history.–Lois Young

Rebel Girls Make Dessert: Kid-Tested Recipes You Can Make, Bake, and Share! 224p. Ten Speed. Oct. 2025. Tr $22.99. ISBN 9780593835593.
Gr 6 Up–The editors of this book understand that the measure of a successful cookbook for adults is different from that for tweens and teens; they encourage chefs to read the recipe twice, and they do not make assumptions that readers know baking intricacies, such as the distinction between melting and softening butter. Icons at the top corners decode the use of sharp tools or equipment, which are also in bold for added emphasis. Directions, such as how to zest fruits, are embedded near the recipe instead of in the introduction or appendix to ensure cooks easily access and follow the instructions. Recipes and tips are included from notable bakers, such as Nadiya Hussain, a Great British Bake Off winner. Desserts are organized into five sections with cookies/brownies/bars, cakes/cupcakes, fruit, pastries/pudding/pie, and frozen treats. Dispersed throughout are “You’re the chef” testimonials and fun food facts about historical rebel girls like Juliette Gordon Low and Mabel Beatrice Elliot that will inspire further research. Diverse cultures and religions are represented with hamantaschen for Purim, Greek melomakarona, and Joanne Chang’s homemade Oreos. Though this title may be a tough nut to crack for beginners without adult assistance, young kids will be drawn to the brightly colored confections, such as confetti sheet cake or chewy sugar cookies. VERDICT This collection of recipes is a treasure; visually stunning, seasoned with quotes from famous female chefs, and a great addition to the “Rebel Girls” series.–Laura Dooley-Taylor

Saltz, Joanna. Delish: The How-To Cookbook for Young Foodies. 192p. Hearst Home Kids. Apr. 2025. Tr $25. ISBN 9781958395738.
Gr 3-8–This title is different from other how-to cookbooks in that it uses a gamified style of skill-building, starting from the very beginning with kitchen rules and basic cooking skills everyone needs to know before they begin. Culinary skills, such as measuring, cutting, and washing, are presented with example photos followed by a glossary of cooking terminology readers will see throughout the cookbook. The cookbook isn’t categorized by meal type but by skill level. Each level begins with a particular skill readers will need for each recipe. Whenever a recipe calls for a new skill, it is displayed, and young chefs must use it alongside any skill(s) they learned previously. In other words, the more cooking skills one learns, the more complex the recipes become. The recipes range from simple appetizers to scrumptious desserts, allowing learning chefs to cook their favorite foods. This cookbook’s layout is perfect because it demonstrates the ways cooking skills accumulate and build through each level. VERDICT One of the best how-to books for young cooks, or for anyone who is learning. Every library should order at least one copy of this cookbook.–Lois Young

Samuels, Debra & Mayumi Uejima-Carr. Japanese Cooking with Kids: 50 Kid-Tested Recipes to Make Together! photos by Yumi Komatsudaira. 128p. Tuttle Pub. Aug. 2025. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9784805317891.
Gr 3-7–Samuels and Uejima-Carr are the chef founders of “Wa-Sho: Learn, Cook, Eat Japanese,” a cooking program inspired by the Japanese word for cuisine and meal education, and it sums up the authors’ socially conscious philosophy around healthy nutrition and respect for resources (mottainai). This cookbook uses photos and illustrations to encourage variety and balance in meals, placing consideration on presentation, expression of gratitude (Itadakimasu), and avoiding overstuffing. Young chefs are encouraged to contemplate the benefits of communal eating, using seasonal foods, and eating five colored foods at each meal. Samuels and Uejima-Carr explain portion control, define carbs/proteins, and provide examples with pie charts highlighting foods that make eaters “go (energy), grow (growth), and glow (fight disease).” Sections are organized around Japanese Rice, Flavors of the Sea, Food from Soy, Fruits/Vegetables, Japanese Favorites, School Lunches, Bento Boxes, and Desserts/Drinks. Kids of all ages will enjoy deceptively easy recipes like matcha tea cake with chocolate swirls. Health and safety practices incorporate text features such as bullet points to scaffold children who need help identifying important concepts. Health and mathematics educators will appreciate instruction on nutrition label reading and counting in Japanese. VERDICT The introduction of kawaii food designs and manga references helps acquaint young eaters with new flavors and dishes, while the chopstick games and crafts add to the fun of cooking while learning about Japanese culture. Douzo meshiagare!–Laura Dooley-Taylor

Tilton, Buck & Christine Conners. Outdoor Cooking for Kids: The Essential Culinary Guide to Increasing Confidence, Safety, and Enjoyment in the Wild. 152p. Falcon Guides. May 2025. pap. $16.95. ISBN 9781493084708.
Gr 3-5–While most children’s cookbooks start in the kitchen, this outdoor guide discusses heating and eating out in nature with a comprehensive exploration of different methods, recipes, and more, all intended to help young chefs and outdoor enthusiasts create delicious and safely prepared meals and snacks. This cookbook features instructions on how to boil, fry, grill, bake, and even use a homemade solar oven or a Dutch oven. Along with cooking how-to, there is information and photos/illustrations relating to safety information on handling fires, knives, and avoiding foodborne germs and poisons. The images mix clear photos and illustrations reminiscent of artwork with a childlike quality. Headers are bolded and use bullet points and numbers to organize sections and subsequent steps throughout. The back matter includes metric conversions and a recipe index. VERDICT An additional purchase for elementary library collections where cookbooks and unique cooking guides are popular.–Molly Dettmann

Wheatley, Abigail. World Kitchen: Celebrations. illus. by Chaaya Prabhat. 64p. Usborne Bks. Sept. 2025. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781836051770.
Gr 3-7–To appreciate different cultures, start with what people eat. Budding chefs looking to cozy up to some bedtime reading with a celebratory theme would enjoy this colorful companion to World Kitchen . This title brings baking around the world to life with Prabhat’s distinct illustrations of food, family, and fun. The cookbook is not organized traditionally by new year but begins March 1st with Welsh St. David’s Day and Halloween, then jumps to Twelfth Night. A world map and cooking instructions with tools and descriptions paint an international picture of festive cuisine. Educators could use this to pair with Lois Ehlert’s Eating the Alphabet and create a lesson using local farmers’ markets to illustrate how it takes a village to put food on the table. A QR code links to videos that show how special occasions are celebrated worldwide, with recipes to download and cooking guides. Wheatley whips up valuable points about handwashing, positioning pan handles, and explicitly states that users should consider allergies before making a recipe. Text layouts include which fruits/vegetables, cakes, drinks, and spices are associated with the celebrations for a real cultural infusion. Families from around the world contributed these recipes that will inspire children to research and share their favorite sweet and savory ethnic foods. VERDICT Younger tweens will be immersed in annual global celebrations and relish this cookbook’s vibrant graphic novel feel.–Laura Dooley-Taylor