I Want to Cook for My Friends: Recipes for Kids

This book is for kids who want to cook for their friends, for their moms and dads, for the birds in the garden, for the neighbor’s cat, for the dog they dream about. So many childhood moments.

Four chapters, four seasons, with easy recipes that kids will love to make and eat together with their dolls and their toys. In this book, we’ll learn how to go grocery shopping, how to cook, and what to eat for each season of the year, while thinking about the nature that surrounds us: healthy “chips” made of fresh carrots, a fruity sunny-side-up made of apricot “yolks” in cream cheese, an edible Hanukkah menorah, or a fancy birthday cake made entirely out of candy. Who says you can’t play with your food?

This book is more than a cookbook. It encourages kids to practice their reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, and even introduces them to some basic concepts in chemistry—the kind of chemistry that happens in the kitchen. This book offers kids and parents a chance to share the joy of creating something together.

Martine Camillieri is a grandmother and a visual artist from France. She’s written many books teaching people how to take care of the environment, while focusing on making ecological responsibility playful and fun. “This book was born because of my grandkids,” she writes. “During our summer vacations together, I noticed that they were hesitant to try new foods that I served them. So I thought to myself, if I make food not only for them but also for their toys and teddy bears, maybe they’ll be willing to taste it…”

This charming and visually beautiful book will whet your appetite and inspire even the adults among us to feel like kids again—even if it’s only for a little while.