There’s so much I have to say about this:
In short, it makes me a little angry. And somewhat frustrated, as a person, as a woman, and as a mother to a boy and a girl.
I was merely looking for a cookbook for my boy, you know, so he will have one of his own, a birthday gift. Any suggestions?
Categories : Bite size, Cooking with kids, Food books & Cookbooks
15 Comments
Nikki
May 17th, 2011 at 11:27
Kids Feeding Kids
Melissa@HomeBaked
May 17th, 2011 at 11:28
We like Pretend Soup by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson. No photos of kids at all, and each recipe has cute little step-by-step drawings. It’s geared to preschoolers and up, but I like that my 8-yr-old could easily follow these all by himself. Fairy Tale Feasts by Jane Yolen, et al, is also great (plus a great story book). Again, completely gender neutral. There seems to be a whole series of Fairy Tale cookbooks, but we just have the one. Another I’m considering for my kids is the DK Children’s Cookbook (love the DK books, full of photos and facts that my boys, especially, love to memorize).
Nurit - family friendly food
May 17th, 2011 at 11:37
Nikki, Found it on Amazon web site. I like how the cover looks
Will check it out. Thanks!
Melissa, A friend recommended Pretend Soup so I checked it out from the library to check it out I’m afraid my 8 yo wouldn’t like the book because of the drawings of bears, animals, and such… He will probably think it’s for younger children and/or say it’s not “cool” enough for him
What are DK Children’s Cookbook? What DK stands for? Thanks!
Melissa@HomeBaked
May 17th, 2011 at 12:00
Here’s the link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/DK-Childrens-Cookbook-Katharine-Ibbs/dp/0756605970/ref=pd_sim_b_2
DK is the publisher…you may recognize their books–we have many of them, from preschool board books to pocket reference books. My 8 yo would love this one, and it’s definitely designed for older kids. They have several other cookbooks, too.
Melissa@HomeBaked
May 17th, 2011 at 12:04
While browsing Amazon, I also found this one: http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crockers-Kids-Crocker-Editors/dp/0471753092/ref=pd_sim_b_5
My graphic novel reading son would like the drawings, and it looks appropriate for 8-12 yos.
Kelly
May 17th, 2011 at 12:09
I checked my cookbooks because I randomly get some to review from Amazon that are more meant for kids and you’re right, all girls, although to be honest, some feel like the tone is written more for adults anyhow vs. a cookbook for a kid. The one I will say I had as a kid and loved is the Klutz cookbook. It’s a little outdated now…wonder if they ever came up with an updated version. Although it does have drawings so it may give the younger feel.
Samantha
May 17th, 2011 at 12:16
Here’s where I started: Betty Crocker for kids books:
http://www.amazon.com/Junior-Cookbook-Better-Gardens-Cooking/dp/0696220008/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
and
http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crockers-Kids-Crocker-Editors/dp/0471753092
Lori
May 17th, 2011 at 12:45
Try the Usborne Round the World Cookbook or the internet linked. It’s pretty gender neutral. My daughter’s copy is very old so I can’t speak for the updated version’s recipes but she had a great time cooking from it when she was around your son’s age.
The above picture of cookbooks makes me sad. Good Luck and Yay for your son and you for teaching him life skills that everyone needs to have. :O)
Kristine
May 17th, 2011 at 16:27
I dont know if it is still produced but Kids can Cook by Judy Williams.
I got that when I was 10, though when I think about it that was a whole 8 years ago so it might not be available! It was my fav cook book ever. Has an early teen-feel to it (so that might get the ‘cool’ rating?), while still being simple to follow with loads of pictures of the steps.
It’s also a flip book which stand up on it’s own which I found awesome in the early days of cooking!
Nurit - family friendly food
May 17th, 2011 at 18:57
Kelly, you are right, some of the books are written with a tone meant for adults. Also the choice of the recipes… there’s no way a kid could make, even most adults cannot master, like making paper thin crepes
, that’ll be the same thing with my son, he’d think it’s for younger kids.
I found a Klutz cookbook on Amazon but it has bears on the cover
Nurit - family friendly food
May 17th, 2011 at 19:02
Melissa, Samantha, Lori, Kristine – thanks! I’ll check out those cookbooks.
Mrs. Q
May 17th, 2011 at 19:06
Also, the magazine ChopChop has both girls and boys cooking — love it a lot.
Neil Butterfield
May 18th, 2011 at 21:42
I do not think it matters that the books have pics of girls. Stereotyping is so passe.
Leesha
May 22nd, 2011 at 01:23
I remember loving the Company’s Coming series for kids, when I was a child. From what I recall, it was gender-neutral, with photos of the food only. Here’s a link to some of the titles:
http://www.companyscoming.com/kids-cookbooks/
By the way…I totally agree with you – it is frustrating that a lot of these cookbooks are focused on girls only.
MP
June 22nd, 2011 at 20:44
We got an old vintage copy of McCall’s Giant Golden Make-It Book (a kids’ craft book from the…sixties?), and although there are some “gendered” crafts (a boy making a toy tank, a girl making a baby doll), I was impressed that the cooking pages had large colored illustrations of both boys AND girls cooking. In fact, I even scanned those 4 pages to share with a friend whose little boy loves to cook. Sadly, the recipes are mainly for cookies and candy and involve old-school (read: no longer available) mixes. Still, images speak loudly. (Link to the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/MCCALLS-GIANT-GOLDEN-MAKE-BOOK/dp/B000NZDK2C?tag=duckduckgo-d-20)