Top 10 Cookbooks for Cooking with Children

Posted: September 13, 2020 | Updated: September 15, 2020
Created by: Ms. Sylvia

Whether this inspires you to have your first culinary adventure as a family or whether you’re seasoned kitchen explorers, I think you’ll find something on this list for you!

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Pretend Soup

  1. Pretend Soup And Other Real Recipes by Mollie Katzen
    This is the perfect introduction to cooking with young children. Designed for preschoolers but fun for all, Pretend Soup has illustrated recipes that are both accessible and delicious. Along with Mollie Katzen’s other cookbooks for children (especially Honest Pretzels, The Enchanted Broccoli Forest, and Salad People and More Real Recipes), this is the cookbook I used as a child and still love to use with children today.

Bring Me Some Apples

  1. Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie by Robbin Gourley
    It’s not officially a cookbook, but Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie is a beautifully illustrated story about Edna Lewis, the renowned American chef known as the Grand Dame of Southern Cooking. The book includes five special recipes, which is why I’ve snuck it onto this list.

Fanny at Chez Panisse

  1. Fanny at Chez Panisse: A Child’s Restaurant Adventures with 46 Recipes by Alice Waters
    Another book that mixes stories with recipes, this one is written from the perspective of Fanny, a girl growing up at her mother’s famous restaurant. You’ll find 46 fabulous recipes in this story.

Fairy Tale Feasts

  1. Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook for Young Readers & Eaters with Tales retold by Jane Yolen, recipes by Heidi E. Y. Stemple and Illustrations by Philippe Béha
    There are many great recipe books that follow stories, but this is a fun one for young admirers of fairy tales. Beautifully illustrated by Philippe Béha and full of wonderful stories by the great Jane Yolen, this cookbook is also full of amazing, delicious recipes. I’d recommend telling the story, then cooking your story-inspired treat for an afternoon of fun. I’d also recommend the other cookbooks in this series, Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts and Jewish Fairy Tale Feasts.

Cooking Class: Global Feast

  1. Cooking Class: Global Feast! 44 Recipes that Celebrate the World’s Cultures by Deanna F. Cook
    Discover your new favorite dishes from around the world with Cooking Class: Global Feast. Chapter 1 is full of great, practical lessons on topics that range from kitchen safety to prep work to vocabulary. The recipes are easy to follow, but good for a variety of skill levels-- and did I mention they’re delicious?

Forest Feast

  1. The Forest Feast for Kids: Colorful Recipes That Are Simple to Make by Erin Gleeson
    This is a BEAUTIFUL cookbook to use with children, full of vegetarian recipes that might surprise you. You’ll find delicious recipes with easy-to-follow instructions and lovely pictures from its food photographer author.

The Silver Spoon

  1. The Silver Spoon for Children: Favorite Italian Recipes
    The instructions in this cookbook are beautifully illustrated, making them easy for young children to “read” and making the book lovely for anyone to enjoy. The recipes are simple, but full of flavor. May I recommend the stuffed peaches?

This Cookbook is Gross

  1. This Cookbook is Gross: Recipes to Freak Out Your Friends
    If you are not squeamish and you live with a reluctant young chef (or if it’s near Halloween and you’re looking for new ways to celebrate), cautiously pick up a copy of This Cookbook is Gross. Recipes look gross, but aren’t a waste of ingredients. It’s not the book for everyone… but perhaps it’s the book for you! Unfortunately, it can be hard to find, but if you feel drawn to it, the search might be worth it.

Help Yourself Cookbook

  1. The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids: 60+ Recipes Kids Can Make to Stay Healthy and Save the World by Ruby Roth
    This fun plant-based cookbook is a great choice for elementary to middle-school aged students, infusing creative and delicious recipes with colorful illustrations, humor, and fun facts.

The Kids' Kitchen Takeover

  1. The Kids’ Kitchen Takeover by Sara Bennett Stein
    To the best of my knowledge, this book is out of print, but if you can find it, it is full of great activities and recipes. If you can’t find a copy now, this one is worth hunting for, especially in honor of National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day, every September 13th. Enjoy exploring!

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