Children's books occasionally have a surprise for that budding chef in the family: recipes!
Today, I will share six books that include recipes: three picture books for preschoolers and three chapter books for middle graders.
The recipes are simple and easy to make so that children can enjoy learning how to bake or cook in the kitchen!
Children's Books That Include Recipes
Bee-bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park
Linda Sue Park shares her Korean heritage in this fun rhyming book that shows kids how to make Bee-bim Bop, or rice topped with vegetables and meat.
I am more familiar with Linda Sue Park as a middle grade writer. She authored one of my favorite books, Project Mulberry, a great book not just about silkworms, but also about friendship.
The child in the story helps Mom by adding all of the various ingredients to the pot. If there are spills, it is immediately cleaned up!
At the end, we meet the rest of the family, including Dad, baby, and Grandma.
Ingredients and cooking instructions for Bee-bim Bop are provided immediately after the story! For toddlers through preschool.
Ole! Cinco de Mayo by Margaret Olivia McManis
Cinco de Mayo is one of those holidays that are sparsely covered in the picture book world. This title is a wonderful find when you are looking for delightful books for preschoolers about the holiday.
I love David Harrington's delightful illustrations in this picture book about Cinco de Mayo. I first noticed his work in Since We're Friends by Celeste Shally. Colorful and bright, Harrington's artwork is inviting and fun!
Hilarity ensues as Pablo brings his calf, Rodeo to school to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
As I said before, I love sing-along books, and this one can be sung to "BINGO."
At the end, you will find a wonderfully easy recipe to make for flan!
Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson
Karma Wilson is one of my favorite picture book authors and here she includes a recipe for "Whopper Cake," or chocolate cake.
Grandad wants to bake a cake for Grandma. He wants to make it extra special, so he adds a lot of ingredients. He wants it to be a Whopper Cake! Laugh aloud when you see where Grandad decides to bake the cake!
If you like this book, be sure to read Wilson's Bear collection. Wilson covers all kinds of topics with Bear and his caring woodland friends.
This book is for preschoolers or early elementary-aged children.
Pie by Sarah Weeks
If you love to eat pie, you will surely enjoy reading Sarah Weeks' Pie!
Why does Aunt Polly, the Pie Queen of Ipswitch, leave her beloved pie crust recipe to her cat, Lardo? Everyone in town tries to figure out how to get the recipe from the cat. Someone goes a little extreme, when Lardo goes missing!
Solve the mystery of why Aunt Polly bequeathed her beloved pie crust recipe to Lardo and pick up a few pie recipes, too.
Aunt Polly's chocolate pie recipe is worth at try!
For grades 4-7.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh
If you love mysteries, you will certainly be intrigued by this book, which does include a recipe for the cover-mentioned Twinkie pie.
Author Kat Yeh magically interweaves a story about two sisters and their longing for a better life with recipes that reflect various plot points. This is one of my favorite books; Yeh's innovation in using recipes to move the story along is terrific!
After winning a lottery, the sisters move from a trailer park to a posh Long Island neighborhood. But is this move for the better or for the worse?
Long dormant secrets start to come apart as the two sisters start their new life in New York.
Love the Twinkie Pie recipe near the very beginning of the book!
For grades 4-7.
It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder
Schroeder's It's Raining Cupcakes is the first book in a trilogy of books about baking.
Middle graders in grades 4-7 will enjoy the story about Isabel, who has lived in Oregon all her life.
Given the chance to leave Oregon through a baking contest, Isabel must decide if her desire to leave Oregon will impact her emotionally immature Mom, who is just starting up her own baking business. Also, what about her best friend, who is also entering the contest?
Enjoy the many cupcake recipes in this book!
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