Sesame Street let's cook together With 40 fun, healthy recipes

PreS-Gr 2--The title of this beginner-friendly book sets the tone for its collaborative and empowering spirit. From the beginning, simplicity is the name of the game: there is information about food safety, nutrition, kitchen tools, and basic cooking skills, all presented in large text and straightforward language. Chapters focus on breakfasts, snacks, dinners, lunches, and treats, with 40 recipes in total. While a few recipes are character-specific (like the blueberry Super Grover Smoothie), most are included because they are easy, healthful, and would be fun for a child and their caregiver to work on together. Each one is accompanied by a bright full-page photo of the finished product, and the book also boasts plenty of appearances from favorite characters such as Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, and Zoe. There is a friendliness and ease of use that is in keeping with the gentle tone of a Sesame Street episode, including a thoughtful section on the benefits of cooking with children, stressing the learning opportunities to be found when working together in the kitchen. A two-page glossary nicely rounds out this introduction to cooking. VERDICT Sesame Street fans and novice chefs will find much to appreciate in this collection of easy recipes.--Kate Newcombe