Monday, October 25, 2021

Nonfiction Spotlight: The Big, Fun Kids Baking Book

It's time for another Nonfiction Spotlight and as October is National Cookbook Month, I couldn't help but share one of the library's newest cookbooks. If you attended Miss Alex's Create Your Own Cookbook program last week, the recipes in this book would be perfect to add. 



The Facts:

Title: The Big, Fun Kids Baking Book    Author: Maile CarpenterPhoto Director: Alice AlbertPublisher: Hearst Home KidsPublication Date: July 27, 2021

Target Audience: Grades 3 and up


Summary:


Who wants dessert? This cookbook, from the editor's of Food Network Magazine, is filled with more than 100 great recipes - plus photos and tips to help you make your best treats ever. 

You'll discover more than just recipes inside: You can also take a baking quiz, dye your own sprinkles, turn cookie dough into an edible jigsaw puzzle and so much more. Flip through and pick a project ...it's time to bake!

The Big, Fun Kids Baking Book also includes food trivia, tips, food crafts, and other fun activities.

The Experts Say:

"A visual recipe index at the beginning of the book provides a miniature photograph of each completed dish with the recipe’s name and the corresponding page number......Many of the recipes offer “design-your-own” options to circumvent picky eaters and spark creativity....This accessible and visually stunning cookbook will delight and inspire home cooks of all ages and get families cooking together.

—School Library Journal





“This book is a must-have for all the bakers out there! It’s filled with so many fun ideas, tasty recipes and my favorite—tons of sprinkles!” 
—Natasha Jiwani, Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship Winner Season 5
 
“I love it when cookbooks are created just for kids! ‘Adult’ cookbooks can be intimidating, and kids may be nervous to start baking, but this book allows them to jump in and be creative.” 
—Trevin Alford, Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship Winner Season 7




Miss Kate Says:

Many people don't think about cookbooks being nonfiction books but there are so many things you can learn from them. From learning math lingo (one-third, one-fourth) to following directions, to the importance of accurate measurements, there are lots of skills that can be learned. And who doesn't love having a tasty treat to eat afterward. Cookbooks allow children to learn new skills in the kitchen that will carry them into adulthood. 

This highly visual cookbook is perfect for those starting out or wanting to hone their skills. The photo recipe index makes it easy to choose what looks good and each recipe includes pictures. The design your own option allows for flexibility and creativity while the recipe tips give useful hacks and make baking fun.  Sprinkled throughout are informative "Did you know" segments that even had me learning something new. 




If you'd like to read more, check out this article from Scholastic on improving reading skills from cookbooks, this article on How to Read a Recipe (for Kids), search our online catalog, or come on in and browse the stacks. You just may find something to cook for dinner tonight, a new favorite recipe, or have a good conversation with your kids in the kitchen. 



4 comments:

  1. Kate,
    I love this cookbook! We have it at my library as well, and it's such a wonderful book. I wish all cookbooks had a visual tables of contents like this one does!

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  2. Hi Kate!
    I love how visually appealing both the cover and table of contents are! This looks like a great cookbook that would appeal to a wide age range of youth.

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  3. Hi Kate,
    This sounds like a great cookbook for kids! The visual table of contents is so cool. My first thought is you could use the visual toc as a prompt for a vote -- kids could chose which one they want to make, and then you could base a virtual program around that recipe.
    Great choice!
    -Whitley

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  4. Hi Kate,
    Sorry if this is a duplicate response... it doesn't look to have gone through on my end. Anyway, I love this cookbook for kids, and especially the visual table of contents. My first thought is this would make a great virtual program... you could have kids vote (passive stats, woot woot!) on which recipe(s) they'd like to see featured, and then build the program around those with the highest votes.
    -- Whitley

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