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Usborne Children's Cookbooks
The Usborne Children's World Cookbook
-- Easy to follow steps show how to make over 40 international recipes
-- Contains interesting tidbits about food and eating traditions
-- Maps show each country's location and natural resources
12 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 11, 2020
The Recipes are so simple that your kid might want to cook it themselves.
July 12, 2020
Good for everyone, not just kids. Some familiar and some not-so from around the world. There are internet links with more information and activities which are current right now but may not be in the future. However, with that being said, the recipes are easy to follow, there are few unusual ingredients and they are explained. A lot of spices, vegetables, cheeses, and fruits we may not be familiar with here in the (white) US are shown, explaining where they are found and how to eat them. It's all very accessible and most sound extremely yummy!
April 23, 2024
Thinking Day Ireland 2024
May 5, 2026
I was looking for a cookbook of international cuisines for my 7-year-old, and while this one has many good ideas, such as illustrations to show the steps each recipe, as well as an explanation of the cultural aspects of and scientific facts about specific ingredients and foods, the recipes themselves fall short.
I have to state that I have not tried any of the recipes, because I took just one glance at them, and I knew that they were not tested by anyone who has a sense of what real and good food is, or how to cook it.
The recipe for NY-style cheesecake, for example, suggests sprinkling it finely grated lemon peel or icing sugar. This is not done.
As another example, the recipe for Canadian pancakes do not state how high the heat should be. For children and others who have never cooked before, this is crucial information.
Finally, the vegetable casserole recipe for Japan calls for boiling the noodles according to package directions, then putting it in a pot with stock, then boiling everything for an additional 45 minutes. That would result in overcooked and mushy noodles, which Japanese noodles are not. For casseroles of this type, the vegetables are cooked in one pot, and the noodles are either cooked separately or the noodles are cooked in the casserole pot for 5-10 or however many minutes it takes to cook them, then taken out with slotted ladles, and added to a bowl for serving.
Even though the book was published fairly recently (2000), some of the pictures look like they belong in cookbooks in the 1960s--overly red and orange tones make the food really unappealing.
All in all, a good idea, but poorly executed. I would just use this book as a source of ideas, then search the internet or elsewhere for the actual recipes.
I have to state that I have not tried any of the recipes, because I took just one glance at them, and I knew that they were not tested by anyone who has a sense of what real and good food is, or how to cook it.
The recipe for NY-style cheesecake, for example, suggests sprinkling it finely grated lemon peel or icing sugar. This is not done.
As another example, the recipe for Canadian pancakes do not state how high the heat should be. For children and others who have never cooked before, this is crucial information.
Finally, the vegetable casserole recipe for Japan calls for boiling the noodles according to package directions, then putting it in a pot with stock, then boiling everything for an additional 45 minutes. That would result in overcooked and mushy noodles, which Japanese noodles are not. For casseroles of this type, the vegetables are cooked in one pot, and the noodles are either cooked separately or the noodles are cooked in the casserole pot for 5-10 or however many minutes it takes to cook them, then taken out with slotted ladles, and added to a bowl for serving.
Even though the book was published fairly recently (2000), some of the pictures look like they belong in cookbooks in the 1960s--overly red and orange tones make the food really unappealing.
All in all, a good idea, but poorly executed. I would just use this book as a source of ideas, then search the internet or elsewhere for the actual recipes.
October 17, 2020
I'm doing a world geography curriculum with my homeschooled Kindergartener. Of several similar cookbooks I've examined, this is the worst of them. Fewer recipes, less information about people and places, not the most attractive layout or user-friendly arrangement. And the worst offense: While Switzerland, Germany, England, Canada, Russia, Thailand, and other countries each get their own sections, Africa is lumped all together.
Better alternatives include The World in My Kitchen by Brown and Morris or The Adventurous Vegetarian: Around the World in 30 Meals by Hughes.
Better alternatives include The World in My Kitchen by Brown and Morris or The Adventurous Vegetarian: Around the World in 30 Meals by Hughes.
February 12, 2008
This book is wonderful. It is very high quality and has great photos. The information is very helpful in selecting those foods at the store that you just don't know when they are ripe or not, if you should eat the skins, if you should eat the seeds, eat it raw or cooked. It is so neat to look at all of these interesting facts. The information is great and the recipies are traditional dishes from different countries. If you would like to purchase this book, please go to my Usborne Independent Consultant Website: www.ubah.com/s2995
May 5, 2011
This book is bright and cheerful, there are great photos and really easy directions with extra information regarding places, and various foods. I have made many recipes from this book with my kids, they all work, are kid friendly and taste good.
However, as far as introducing people to authentic foreign cuisine, this book is lacking. Perhaps they over-homogenized the recipes to make them more palatable to British and North American youth, but there is little here to expand ones tastes.
However, as far as introducing people to authentic foreign cuisine, this book is lacking. Perhaps they over-homogenized the recipes to make them more palatable to British and North American youth, but there is little here to expand ones tastes.
March 12, 2020
This is a great kids cookbook. Simple, easy to follow recipes that celebrate the flavors of countries around the world. All recipes are ones that your child will actually want to eat! Great cooking tips for young chefs and beautiful photographs.
August 17, 2012
Canadian food - pancakes? On the other hand - egg and cheese pies convinced my kids that quiche was okay food.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews