Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook for Preschoolers & Up

A Cookbook for Preschoolers & Up

Together with her co-author, educator Ann Henderson, cookbook author Mollie Katzen believes it's never too early to introduce children to the creative world of cookery in a fun, healthful way. For small children, exploring food and cooking is not just about eating, it can be a playful activity and a way to learn new skills. As an educational experience, consider all the things a child can learn in the kitchen: counting, symbol recognition, reading readiness, self-confidence, use of tools, food literacy, and more.

Pretend Soup brings the grown-up world of real cooking to a child's level. Each vegetarian recipe is presented on double-page spreads, two per recipe. Full of Mollie's well-loved warmth and whimsical artistry, the first spread details the ingredients, safety tips, and a familiar version of the recipe for the prep cook: the adult. The second spread presents the recipe pictorally for the child and introduces a few easy-to-read words - your child moves from the usual role of helper to head cook.

Pretend Soup has rapidly become the children's cookbook classic, and no home or daycare center should be without a copy. Mollie Katzen, author of the Moosewood Cookbook, and educator Ann Henderson have created a masterpiece formatted for grown-ups--with written instructions, suggestions, and caveats--and for kids--with illustrated, easy-to-follow pictures. The recipes are both tasty and healthy, and the quotes from kids are very funny (Matthew: "This is so good, I can't even say a word.") While safety is stressed and tips and warnings are included, Katzen and Henderson always stress the fun in food preparation. "Spills are what sponges are for. So keep plenty of sponges around, and a good time will be had by all!"