Cookbook Research (3)

I found a number of interesting children's cookbook from The Independent's website: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-10-best-childrens-cookbooks-8588949.html

Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes

- By Mollie Katzen.
- Aimed at "preschoolers" - 3-6 years old. This is not the target audience for my brief, however, I thought it would be interesting to see a cookbook based on a younger age and how it differs from books for my target audience (eight year olds).
- The front cover is coloured in muted tones. It has a easy-going visual language that appears friendly. However, I'm not sure if this is dynamic enough and would stand out on a shelf. This front cover is definitely aimed at the parent and not the child.

- The interior of the book is vastly made up of simplistic illustrations. There is little detail to these illustrations, their shape being emphasized and obvious for the young children to understand.
- There is very little text. The text that does appear is made up of short, to-the-point instructions.
- Colours are flat. Illustrations are loose-lined and playful. The layout is very simplistic, making it easy to understand.

Honest Pretzels

- Also  by Mollie Katzen.
- Suggested age range is for children 8+. This provided me with a clear differences between a cookbook aimed at an audience younger than 8 and one aimed at 8 year olds.
- Much more text has been included and the illustrations are now smaller. The text takes the front, rather than the other way around, how it was in Pretend Soup.
- Children at eight are more able to understand recipes. Simplicity is not necessarily needed.
- Yet again, the layout is fairly simplistic. Instructions are boxed in.


Food is Fun!

- Designed by the makers of the Anorak magazine.
- Age range: Suitable for over 5's.
- A heavy focus on the graphics/artwork of a cookbook.
- Creative, intriguing, inviting, playful.
- Simplistic shapes, bold imagery, bright, often contrasting colours - this will appeal to a child audience.

- The typeography is loose, looking hand-rendered. This adds to the playful, less professional feel. It therefore seems more approachable for children.

- Minimum of two colours per page.

- As can be seen above, it also features games.

- Introducing unusual, playful layouts. Including characters, which children will engage with.
- Overall, this is an incredibly fun cookbook for children. It places focus on the artwork and gets children involved this way.


A Zombie Ate My Cupcake

- By artisan baker Lily Vanilli.
- I couldn't find a suggested age-range, yet I would guess (from the text-heavy pages and ambitious recipes) 8-12 years old. 
- A fun, quirky horror-themed baking guide. Kids love horror and gore - so I'm sure this was a hit.
- 25 recipes for spooky treats.

- Layout: Photography on one side, information on the next. On the example above, the right-hand side page seems a little bare. Perhaps something else could have filled up that blank space.
- Horror-themed typography. Relating to the contents of the book.

- Bold, gory imagery that breaks the mould and leaves an impression.
- Consistent art style and layout throughout the book.


Star Wars Cookbook

- By Lara Starr.
- Age range: recommended at 8 - 12 years. There is a lot of text, which is suitable for this audience, yet may be too much for younger children.
- Cookbook based on books, TV shows or movies are very popular among children. Each recipe has a Star Wars twist.

- Photography on one side, instructions on the other. However, the photography blends across the page, becoming the main focus and, as it is the most exciting aspect on the page, this works well.
- Plain typefaces that are easy to read. Black text; colour is left to the photography.

 - Ring-binded, easy to open, flick through pages etc.




References:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-10-best-childrens-cookbooks-8588949.html
http://www.sturdyforcommonthings.com/2013/09/review-pretend-soup-and-other-real-recipies/
http://www.anorakmagazine.com/books/food-is-fun.html
http://atomicvoodoo.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/aaaagggghhhh-zombie-ate-my-cupcake.html