Additional Features Cookbook

Mission:Explore Food

- Cartoon-like illustrations. Colourful. So many different illustrations fill the space. Yet the white background assures that it isn't too overwhelming.
- The typeface resembles a typewriter. Reinforces the "Mission" title.
- Bright, colourful, busy and therefore engaging to children.
- Characters are shown.
- Not spiral-bound, but hard-backed.

This book contains added features: games, puzzles, missions, facts and hands-on experiments. This is a way to really engage children with the cooking recipes. The book also contains information on what happens to food after we eat it! It encourages children to learn about the food cycle and the environment. Information about seasonal foods is also offered.

Daniel Raven-Ellison, one of the authors, explains:

“A children’s book that asks them to question if the pig they are eating has ever seen the light of day, make scary soup and keep a poo diary might sound controversial, but it’s vitally important that children think about their relationship with food and have fun while doing it. We all appreciate that children should know how to cook and eat well, but these are just two chapters in the story of our food. Unlike most children’s cookbooks that ignore the rest of the food cycle, Mission:Explore Food includes activities that encourage children to learn about growing, harvesting, waste and soil as well. An essential ingredient is appreciating that their/our choices effect people and places around the world too.”

I think this page would have made me go vegetarian at a young age! Certainly controversial, but then it is teaching children information they would have never considered before. It is important that they know these things. I just hope it doesn't upset them too much!

This may have destroyed my childhood! The illustrations incorporate the story for "A Very Hungry Caterpillar" in order to create more impact with the child reader.

There is a website tie-in, where you can sign up to complete even more missions. An incentive of collecting rewards is offered.

On their website they also have more information on seasonal foods:
http://www.missionexplore.net/mission/cook_in_season

- A French cookbook all about educating children about seasonal foods.
- Cover is bright, with regonisable foods.
- Also contains a character.
- However, I think it could be busier and more dynamic to interest a younger audience and stand out amongst competitors. However, it seems like it could be an old book.
- Rounded typeface, easy to read.

- A double-page scene has been created. The character takes us through which foods come in season in autumn. I absolutely love this page and think it is such an excellent way to interest a child in seasonal foods. The children can scan the foods, searching for the ones that are in season.
The illustrations are colourful and engaging, certainly appealing to a young audience. I love how there is so much to spot, such as the worm under the ground and the snails.

- The colours reflect the season; autumnal oranges, reds, yellows and browns. The main character is also dressed appropriate to the season - a nice touch!

- Each step marked clearly by large numbers.
- Illustrations give colour and interest to the page.
- Modern typeface.

Endpapers:

Overall, a fun take on interesting children in seasonal foods.



My A to Z Recipe Book

- Aged 6+
- 26 Recipes
- This is such an unusual, creative way to display recipes. You can pull out the recipes from the box. A recipe for every letter of the alphabet.
- Bright, colourful design to appeal.
- I think it's unique presence will really interest children.
- There are also extra blank cards in the box - so that children can make their own recipes! This is such a great idea and encourages children to get creative.
- Characters, male and female.


Cooking in a Can

- Colourful illustrations. Involving children characters again.

 Encourages creativity through activities such as making your own apron!

 Pages are perhaps a bit minimal.

 More illustrations make the pages become more engaging.

A Seed Is Sleepy

This isn't a cooking book, but it is a children's picture book which encourages children to learn about different seeds. This is accomplished through the beautiful illustrations.

References:
http://whitelilygreen.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/possibly-best-childrens-cookbook-ever.html
http://www.missionexplore.net/
http://eatingindenmark.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/french-childrens-cookbook.html
http://www.forkandbottle.com/books/kidsbook/kidsbk.htm