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Next Best Junior Chef #1
Lights, Camera, Cook!
A zesty series for fans of kids' cooking competitions! It's “lights, camera, cook!” for four tween contestants—energetic Tate, charming Rae, worldly Caroline, and hyper-competitive Oliver—who are all about to enter a televised cooking competition.
What will the kids cook up? How will they all get along on- and off-camera? Which junior chef will have the grit—and maybe the grits—to make it through each challenge? And which junior chef will have to hang their apron up for good?
Includes real cooking techniques for the aspiring young chef!
What will the kids cook up? How will they all get along on- and off-camera? Which junior chef will have the grit—and maybe the grits—to make it through each challenge? And which junior chef will have to hang their apron up for good?
Includes real cooking techniques for the aspiring young chef!
192 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2017
77 people are currently reading
682 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
March 11, 2025
This Next Best Junior Chef series is by the same author who brought us the Just Grace series. There is a wonderful understanding of what it is like to be a kid in her books. We finished the book over Messenger this morning. For me it was 7 AM, but for them it was 1 PM. I miss being able to sit with J and sister on their couch. Having an app like Messenger available is the next best thing. Not only is this series entertaining, but there are also tips for cooking included.
There are four kids competing for the title of Next Best Junior Chef: Rae, Caroline, Tate, and Oliver. They range in age from nine to twelve. Since there are nearly 40 chapters, it was nearly impossible to choose a favorite chapter. What we will do instead is name the kid we hope will win the whole shebang. J has chosen Tate and I am going with Rae. Did both of our picks make it through to the next book and Round 2? Stay tuned for The Heat Is On.👩🍳👨🍳
From October, 2018:
There are so many things to love about this book. When you read it you get a backstage view of a kid's cooking show with production information, personality conflicts and bloopers. Kids who love cooking will get some tips on new things to try and be motivated to get in the kitchen. It was brilliant to make each week in the competition a book. You walk through the week with the contestants all the way through the elimination round. This is why I love to read Charise Mericle Harper's books and recommend them to middle grade readers!
There are four kids competing for the title of Next Best Junior Chef: Rae, Caroline, Tate, and Oliver. They range in age from nine to twelve. Since there are nearly 40 chapters, it was nearly impossible to choose a favorite chapter. What we will do instead is name the kid we hope will win the whole shebang. J has chosen Tate and I am going with Rae. Did both of our picks make it through to the next book and Round 2? Stay tuned for The Heat Is On.👩🍳👨🍳
From October, 2018:
There are so many things to love about this book. When you read it you get a backstage view of a kid's cooking show with production information, personality conflicts and bloopers. Kids who love cooking will get some tips on new things to try and be motivated to get in the kitchen. It was brilliant to make each week in the competition a book. You walk through the week with the contestants all the way through the elimination round. This is why I love to read Charise Mericle Harper's books and recommend them to middle grade readers!
May 12, 2018
Get Ready, Set, and BAAKKKKEE!
Welcome to the Next Best Junior Chef, a book I was really looking forward to and a book that certainly delivered. It was almost a 5+ star, but due to a few little things 5 stars is all I can give at the moment (which is still awesome).
I just love shows like the one written in this book. I have seen quite a few and they are always so much fun. Though the one in this book was slightly different. Not only was this one taking place over a week, but it also yielded field trips (so much fun!), mini-challenges, one big competition, private lessons (I would love one as well), chances to win gadgets for the kitchen (I know what I would pick), and much more.
We have 4 characters, and I will list them in order of like/love.
First up: Rae! My favourite girl. I just loved how normal she stayed even though things got very competitive. I also didn't get why everyone was hating on her for saying those things about Oliver. I was agreeing with Rae. He didn't really save her, he just caught her. Plus it was refreshing that she didn't fall for Oliver's charms like everyone else seems to do in this book.
It was fun to read about her grandma and her cooking up a storm and how that has formed her to participate in this challenge.
Second: Caroline. Yep, another girl, but she was so sweet and fun, and I loved how she immediately wanted to be friends with Rae. You don't often see that happen in these kind of events, so I was really delighted. Plus I loved her cooking (she made some interesting things), and she wanted to show her mom that she could cook without her looming over her all the time.
Third: Oliver. He got saved from last place because he did change a bit over the book. He was still a big egomaniac, but he tried his best to help people out. But in the beginning? I hated his cockiness and how he thought he would win because he had done private lessons and was more superior in cooking. No. Just no.
But nearing the end I did see some good in him, though I was a bit pissed at how he acted when things didn't go his way. He should really grow up a bit more. This week is also about having fun and making new recipes. And not only about winning.
Fourth: Tate. Sorry, he just had zero presence for me, at times I even forgot about him, and the only thing he seemed to be able to do was doing stuff with knives. Plus I hated how he got a preference treatment at one point in the book (that is just not done. This is still a competition and just because he got a bad review doesn't mean you have to please him by making a challenge just for him). Also I didn't like how in the end competition he had to be called back because he was with his dad. I get, he misses his dad, but sorry, you are in a big final competition. :|
The book switches between these characters, though there are characters that seem to get a bit more of the spotlight (like Rae or Oliver). At least that is how I felt, these 2 seemed to pop up just a bit more than the others did.
I loved that we also see the comments from the kids on questions they are asked in the interviews or at the start/end of challenges. It definitely made it feel even more like those cooking shows on TV.
Of course there are also sneaky/dirty directors who love drama and don't care about the feelings or thoughts of the kids. It did fit with the whole tv show element, but I still wanted to punch them for doing this crappy thing.
I just flew through this book, I couldn't stop reading it. Everything was just too much fun.
Also the book is peppered with fun illustrations! It made some scenes even nicer. :)
Mm, what more, I think I have mentioned everything. The only thing I want is for the second book to come out, and maybe to have a prequel about the selection process.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Welcome to the Next Best Junior Chef, a book I was really looking forward to and a book that certainly delivered. It was almost a 5+ star, but due to a few little things 5 stars is all I can give at the moment (which is still awesome).
I just love shows like the one written in this book. I have seen quite a few and they are always so much fun. Though the one in this book was slightly different. Not only was this one taking place over a week, but it also yielded field trips (so much fun!), mini-challenges, one big competition, private lessons (I would love one as well), chances to win gadgets for the kitchen (I know what I would pick), and much more.
We have 4 characters, and I will list them in order of like/love.
First up: Rae! My favourite girl. I just loved how normal she stayed even though things got very competitive. I also didn't get why everyone was hating on her for saying those things about Oliver. I was agreeing with Rae. He didn't really save her, he just caught her. Plus it was refreshing that she didn't fall for Oliver's charms like everyone else seems to do in this book.
It was fun to read about her grandma and her cooking up a storm and how that has formed her to participate in this challenge.
Second: Caroline. Yep, another girl, but she was so sweet and fun, and I loved how she immediately wanted to be friends with Rae. You don't often see that happen in these kind of events, so I was really delighted. Plus I loved her cooking (she made some interesting things), and she wanted to show her mom that she could cook without her looming over her all the time.
Third: Oliver. He got saved from last place because he did change a bit over the book. He was still a big egomaniac, but he tried his best to help people out. But in the beginning? I hated his cockiness and how he thought he would win because he had done private lessons and was more superior in cooking. No. Just no.
But nearing the end I did see some good in him, though I was a bit pissed at how he acted when things didn't go his way. He should really grow up a bit more. This week is also about having fun and making new recipes. And not only about winning.
Fourth: Tate. Sorry, he just had zero presence for me, at times I even forgot about him, and the only thing he seemed to be able to do was doing stuff with knives. Plus I hated how he got a preference treatment at one point in the book (that is just not done. This is still a competition and just because he got a bad review doesn't mean you have to please him by making a challenge just for him). Also I didn't like how in the end competition he had to be called back because he was with his dad. I get, he misses his dad, but sorry, you are in a big final competition. :|
The book switches between these characters, though there are characters that seem to get a bit more of the spotlight (like Rae or Oliver). At least that is how I felt, these 2 seemed to pop up just a bit more than the others did.
I loved that we also see the comments from the kids on questions they are asked in the interviews or at the start/end of challenges. It definitely made it feel even more like those cooking shows on TV.
Of course there are also sneaky/dirty directors who love drama and don't care about the feelings or thoughts of the kids. It did fit with the whole tv show element, but I still wanted to punch them for doing this crappy thing.
I just flew through this book, I couldn't stop reading it. Everything was just too much fun.
Also the book is peppered with fun illustrations! It made some scenes even nicer. :)
Mm, what more, I think I have mentioned everything. The only thing I want is for the second book to come out, and maybe to have a prequel about the selection process.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 11, 2017
I was given this e-book free of charge by NetGalley. Thank you!
This was such a fun book! The four junior chefs are all intriguing, but my favourite was by far Tate. He was just so adorable! One thing that momentarily confused me is that there is no established main character. We get glimpses of inner thoughts from all 4 contestants, which makes it harder to truly connect to, or root for, any of them. But if you really think about it, it makes perfect sense - this novel is, after all, based on cooking shows, in which we follow everyone around equally.
So it was really relaxing to just sit back and enjoy, let the drama between the contestants develop on its own, and focus on the competition itself. At least it satisfied my craving for the next chapter of Shokugeki no Souma.
The book also featured tips on how to use a knife and some cutting techniques. Overall, I really liked the message that this book sends about friendship and importance of team work.
This was such a fun book! The four junior chefs are all intriguing, but my favourite was by far Tate. He was just so adorable! One thing that momentarily confused me is that there is no established main character. We get glimpses of inner thoughts from all 4 contestants, which makes it harder to truly connect to, or root for, any of them. But if you really think about it, it makes perfect sense - this novel is, after all, based on cooking shows, in which we follow everyone around equally.
So it was really relaxing to just sit back and enjoy, let the drama between the contestants develop on its own, and focus on the competition itself. At least it satisfied my craving for the next chapter of Shokugeki no Souma.
The book also featured tips on how to use a knife and some cutting techniques. Overall, I really liked the message that this book sends about friendship and importance of team work.
July 3, 2017
I've just recently become (obsessed with? addicted to?) tickled by The Great British Bakeoff. This book reads just like one of the shows (and I'm inferring, like any of the baking shows). Even the solo on-camera snippets are there with character sketch and speech bubble.
I love how much these kids know about food, flavors and cooking. Harper does a good job making each a distinct character and building in good drama and tension.
I'm hooked! Can't wait to read the next one!
I love how much these kids know about food, flavors and cooking. Harper does a good job making each a distinct character and building in good drama and tension.
I'm hooked! Can't wait to read the next one!
July 28, 2024
I think it was a good book but then it became sort of like... I don't know sad at the end kind of but good over all.
August 3, 2018
It turns out that a lot of my kids are into cooking shows and really liked reading the first two books in this trilogy. Now that the last book is out, I decided it was time to read them myself after hearing what my kids said and then getting hooked on watching Master Chef Junior last spring when I was so sick. Watching that, I couldn't help but wonder how were those kids so good at cooking, creating, and competing on TV (something I can't even do in my own kitchen). Well, some of those secrets are revealed in these books and it was enlightening.
Book One or rather, Episode one, Lights, Camera, Cook! introduces readers to the competition and the four competitors. Tate, 9, is a bundle of energy who can't stay still except when using a knife and he has some great knife skills; Caroline, 11, is half French and has grown up in her family's French bistro, where her mother is the chef. Caroline wavers between feeling nervous to feeling confident; Oliver, 12, is cool, calm and competitive. He's also the only contestant who has taken actual cooking lessons, but no one needs to know that, right?; and Rae, 11, who likes to do crafts and learned all her cooking skills from her grandmother and the people in her multicultural neighborhood. Rae isn't as confident at the other contestants but takes chances with her dishes.
And what are these four talented junior chefs competing for? The food truck of their dreams. Rae's would be called the Crafty Café, serving good food and having fun crafts to do; Oliver's would be called Bistro Revilo, serving only organic and locally sourced food that would have a twist to it; Caroline's truck would be called Diner Française, a fusion of American diner food with a French twist; and Tate's dream food truck would be called Stuff My Face, a mashup where each day would be a different culturally inspired dish.
The judges, a little more diverse than the contestants, are Chef Vera Porter, who appears to be African American and is famous for her Porter Farm Restaurant; renowned pastry Chef Aimee Copley; and Chef Gary Lee, restaurant proprietor and host of a show called Adventures in Cooking. And besides their dream food truck, the winner will get a guest spot on Chef Gary's show, to be filmed in Italy. The kids will be mentored throughout the competition by Chef Nancy Patel.
The first week of competition begins on a Friday and ends on a Thursday, when one person is eliminated in a final cook-off. During the week, there are mini cooking challenges, and winners can pick prizes from Gadget Wall, kitchen utensils they get to keep. And there are cooking lessons and field trips to learn from, and friendships and rivalries are formed. It's a rough week, and each junior chef has ups and downs, but they all so well and really surprise the judges. Readers discover how the kids learn to not look at the camera, a tough one for each of them, and how they know exactly what to get from the on-set pantry in such shorts amount of time. Yes, secrets are revealed and I loved discovering them. But in the end, one kid had to be eliminated. But who?
The Next Best Junior Chef trilogy was a lot of fun to read. The characters were believable, even their sophisticated cooking talents worked for me because while they had confidence in the kitchen, they were still just kids away from it. I thought the friendship that developed between Rae and Caroline was a nice touch and well done, considering they also had to deal with being competitors.
The format is easy to follow and the distinct personalities of everyone - chefs and junior chef - add a lot of excitement and tension to the books, aided by some interesting behind the scenes information. The descriptions of the dishes each challenger creates are nicely described, giving the reader a good sense of what it is like, which is usually mouth-watering delicious. And there is a lot for budding chefs and/or foodies to learn about being a professional chef. One nice touch is that there is back matter in each book for young home cooks - knife skills, essential techniques like measuring, and how to cook flavorful food.
There whimsical black and white spot illustrations throughout the book, and there are even individual sidebar comments by each junior chef throughout, just as they do on all reality shows, and yes, you learn why they don't fumble for words when individually commenting.
If you are looking for some fun middle grade books to read this summer, I can't recommend these highly enough. Who knows, maybe your young readers will be motivated to test out their own cooking skills.
Book One or rather, Episode one, Lights, Camera, Cook! introduces readers to the competition and the four competitors. Tate, 9, is a bundle of energy who can't stay still except when using a knife and he has some great knife skills; Caroline, 11, is half French and has grown up in her family's French bistro, where her mother is the chef. Caroline wavers between feeling nervous to feeling confident; Oliver, 12, is cool, calm and competitive. He's also the only contestant who has taken actual cooking lessons, but no one needs to know that, right?; and Rae, 11, who likes to do crafts and learned all her cooking skills from her grandmother and the people in her multicultural neighborhood. Rae isn't as confident at the other contestants but takes chances with her dishes.
And what are these four talented junior chefs competing for? The food truck of their dreams. Rae's would be called the Crafty Café, serving good food and having fun crafts to do; Oliver's would be called Bistro Revilo, serving only organic and locally sourced food that would have a twist to it; Caroline's truck would be called Diner Française, a fusion of American diner food with a French twist; and Tate's dream food truck would be called Stuff My Face, a mashup where each day would be a different culturally inspired dish.
The judges, a little more diverse than the contestants, are Chef Vera Porter, who appears to be African American and is famous for her Porter Farm Restaurant; renowned pastry Chef Aimee Copley; and Chef Gary Lee, restaurant proprietor and host of a show called Adventures in Cooking. And besides their dream food truck, the winner will get a guest spot on Chef Gary's show, to be filmed in Italy. The kids will be mentored throughout the competition by Chef Nancy Patel.
The first week of competition begins on a Friday and ends on a Thursday, when one person is eliminated in a final cook-off. During the week, there are mini cooking challenges, and winners can pick prizes from Gadget Wall, kitchen utensils they get to keep. And there are cooking lessons and field trips to learn from, and friendships and rivalries are formed. It's a rough week, and each junior chef has ups and downs, but they all so well and really surprise the judges. Readers discover how the kids learn to not look at the camera, a tough one for each of them, and how they know exactly what to get from the on-set pantry in such shorts amount of time. Yes, secrets are revealed and I loved discovering them. But in the end, one kid had to be eliminated. But who?
The Next Best Junior Chef trilogy was a lot of fun to read. The characters were believable, even their sophisticated cooking talents worked for me because while they had confidence in the kitchen, they were still just kids away from it. I thought the friendship that developed between Rae and Caroline was a nice touch and well done, considering they also had to deal with being competitors.
The format is easy to follow and the distinct personalities of everyone - chefs and junior chef - add a lot of excitement and tension to the books, aided by some interesting behind the scenes information. The descriptions of the dishes each challenger creates are nicely described, giving the reader a good sense of what it is like, which is usually mouth-watering delicious. And there is a lot for budding chefs and/or foodies to learn about being a professional chef. One nice touch is that there is back matter in each book for young home cooks - knife skills, essential techniques like measuring, and how to cook flavorful food.
There whimsical black and white spot illustrations throughout the book, and there are even individual sidebar comments by each junior chef throughout, just as they do on all reality shows, and yes, you learn why they don't fumble for words when individually commenting.
If you are looking for some fun middle grade books to read this summer, I can't recommend these highly enough. Who knows, maybe your young readers will be motivated to test out their own cooking skills.
November 6, 2019
This book was cute. I think it handled the format of a cooking competition television show well. It definitely skews younger than a lot of junior fiction. It lacked development and length and complexity. I think it will fill a need for a certain group of readers though. It would be great for reluctant readers or kids who are branching out from late readers or early chapter books. It was enjoyable for me to read, but I don't think that I will read the rest of the series. I'd rather watch an episode of Chopped.
February 22, 2018
This is a dream come true for food-loving young chefs! The competition is fierce, and the descriptions of food made my mouth water! I really think all of the marks were hit showing skills a contestant would need to succeed in a cooking show, and the little interviews were a fun way to break up the text and hear multiple perspectives. The cooking tips and info in the back of the book were super awesome, too.
The only thing I was missing was some depth of character. Otherwise, it’s a winner!
The only thing I was missing was some depth of character. Otherwise, it’s a winner!
November 21, 2020
Midway through this I decided to go ahead and buy it for my 10yo nephew who is into cooking. A very quick read.
June 10, 2018
LIghts, Camera, Cook is a great book. It is like watching a cooking show but you are reading it. THe central theme is that everybody is a winner even if yuo dont win because you tried your best. That is the central idea of this book.
November 21, 2017
Perfect for kids who love to spend time in the kitchen, either cooking or eating. Lots of great behind-the-scenes info about reality cooking shows, too. Looking forward to the second title!
December 19, 2022
The character that i connected the most was, Tate because he loves to do things fast and Finnish on time he is Tate is competing in the show and he connects to me because we both love doing things fast. What I wish happened at the end, I would love to see Tate win because he gave it his all but he did not win. The next best junior chef, could have been better if there was more action because everyone was being too nice.
July 1, 2017
Harper does a great job turning the wildly popular cooking shows into an excellent book for kids grades 3-7 who love them. Rae, Caroline, Tate and Oliver all earned the right to compete for the title of "Next Best Junior Chef" and all four take the competition seriously. All four characters have very different personalities and strengths in the kitchen and must figure out ways to impress judges with their cooking skills AND perform well on and off camera. Rae and Caroline become best friends, Tate just bounces around like the 9 year old little boy that he is and Oliver seems to reign as the King of Calm...until he doesn't! One chef will be dismissed during this first installment of what I believe will be a very popular book in my 4-5 grade libraries. Added bonus-throughout this series opening, readers will get very real pointers on cooking, plating, and being a good competitor. Teachers will enjoy the use of cooking specific vocabulary and the excellent context clues used with it. Use of drawings of each chapter with speech balloons was an eye-catching way to reveal answers to interview questions and a great tool to break up the text in a kid-friendly way. I look forward to adding this book to my collection, along with books 2 and 3 to follow. (Review of digital ARC from EdelweissPlus)
August 16, 2018
I enjoyed this book a lot, mostly because it read just like an episode of Master Chef Junior. I think anyone who enjoys cooking competition shows would enjoy this book.
I guess my biggest complaint is that it didn't have a strong plot. The book is based heavily around the competition (duh), but it didn't quite feel like enough to keep me satisfied. There was minor drama between characters, but overall I felt like it wasn't enough. I wish we got a peek inside the kids' lives a little more. I think that would make it more engaging.
The scene with Tate's dad was really heartwarming.
I know this was only "episode 1" of three books, but I can only hope that Oliver doesn't win the show. He seems very self-absorbed. I don't like him much at all.
Overall, I would recommend this book to people who like cooking competition shows. I think it would be appropriate for ages 8 & up.
I guess my biggest complaint is that it didn't have a strong plot. The book is based heavily around the competition (duh), but it didn't quite feel like enough to keep me satisfied. There was minor drama between characters, but overall I felt like it wasn't enough. I wish we got a peek inside the kids' lives a little more. I think that would make it more engaging.
The scene with Tate's dad was really heartwarming.
I know this was only "episode 1" of three books, but I can only hope that Oliver doesn't win the show. He seems very self-absorbed. I don't like him much at all.
Overall, I would recommend this book to people who like cooking competition shows. I think it would be appropriate for ages 8 & up.
March 11, 2018
My son loves watching kid cooking shows with me, but apparently he doesn’t really like reading about kid cooking shows with me. He lost interest in this book very quickly. I thought it was such a fun idea and I like this author, so I thought I would finish it on my own. But then I lost interest in it too. While this was a great concept for a book, I think the trouble was in how it was executed. It was very slow moving and we never really get to know the characters. It kind of made me feel like I was watching a boring documentary on how a food show is made. I think I would have liked it better if it had been from the point of view of one of the kids. Kind of a bummer, but you can’t win them all.
May 13, 2017
The new Next Best Junior Chef is a contest judged by three renowned chef's. The competition allows one junior chef the chance to win a food truck and the opportunity to film in Italy.
Each contestant, two boys and two girls are each around 9-11 years old and their histories influenced by their family and holiday's inspire a wide range of dishes from around the world alike in our real cooking TV shows.
They are all excited as they get their own work station and personalized apron, the chance to win kitchen gadget prizes throughout the shows and a week recording schedule which tough daunting, they face with smiles and passion for cooking!
The four children, Rae, Caroline, Tate and Oliver, each design their unique food truck ideas way before the winner is announced and we see how unique each child really is!
They're challenged all week with a set of camera cards to teach them to be natural and not stare into the camera's to make it candid.
The girls bond, while the boys or at least Oliver's perfectionism and high achieving desires makes them not as close. Steve the producer only cares about rating's though, whereas chef Nancy wants the children to be having fun like they should be doing.
They take a trip to a fairground for a challenge after they make some rather interesting and intriguing flavoured ice creams and the fairground challenge is a higher end unique twist on a classic style of serving food.
The elimination challenge leaves three of the children to be facing off in the final which will be in the next book, so we don't actually find a winner of the series in the book so it definitely doesn't work as a stand alone unless you want a cliffhanger, buy the next book to find out what happens next!
I really liked the fact that we got small breaks in story text to hear a thought or opinion made by a contestant as it gives us more feel for them, their personality, cheeky, friendly etc. There are lots of food facts and knife safety part so children learn proper kitchen tips and terms. Overall it was a really fun book and I'm sure children will enjoy it especially if they're into cooking or crafts.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
Each contestant, two boys and two girls are each around 9-11 years old and their histories influenced by their family and holiday's inspire a wide range of dishes from around the world alike in our real cooking TV shows.
They are all excited as they get their own work station and personalized apron, the chance to win kitchen gadget prizes throughout the shows and a week recording schedule which tough daunting, they face with smiles and passion for cooking!
The four children, Rae, Caroline, Tate and Oliver, each design their unique food truck ideas way before the winner is announced and we see how unique each child really is!
They're challenged all week with a set of camera cards to teach them to be natural and not stare into the camera's to make it candid.
The girls bond, while the boys or at least Oliver's perfectionism and high achieving desires makes them not as close. Steve the producer only cares about rating's though, whereas chef Nancy wants the children to be having fun like they should be doing.
They take a trip to a fairground for a challenge after they make some rather interesting and intriguing flavoured ice creams and the fairground challenge is a higher end unique twist on a classic style of serving food.
The elimination challenge leaves three of the children to be facing off in the final which will be in the next book, so we don't actually find a winner of the series in the book so it definitely doesn't work as a stand alone unless you want a cliffhanger, buy the next book to find out what happens next!
I really liked the fact that we got small breaks in story text to hear a thought or opinion made by a contestant as it gives us more feel for them, their personality, cheeky, friendly etc. There are lots of food facts and knife safety part so children learn proper kitchen tips and terms. Overall it was a really fun book and I'm sure children will enjoy it especially if they're into cooking or crafts.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
November 19, 2017
Cross posted from the reviewer's personal Goodreads account:
Harper, Charise Mericle Next Best Junior Chef : Lights Camera Cook, 185 pgs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, $12.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0”f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
4 young contestants, Tate (9) Caroline (11) Oliver (12) and Rae (11) are vying to be the “Next Best Junior Chef”. Reading like a reality show, the contestants are taken through a series of instructions and challenges to see who has the most skill. Caroline comes from a restaurant family, Oliver is super confident (and the King of Calm), Tate is young and energetic, and Rae is precise and passionate. Facing the celebrity chefs, and dealing with a little bit of drama, “episode 1” is a lot of fun.
The drama is super mild (Rae faints and Oliver catches her) the competition is friendly - I’d have to say this is a sweet read. These kid-centered cooking shows are all the rage right now, so I can see that there is certainly interest for this title (and the sequel advertised on the back).
EL - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Harper, Charise Mericle Next Best Junior Chef : Lights Camera Cook, 185 pgs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, $12.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0”f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
4 young contestants, Tate (9) Caroline (11) Oliver (12) and Rae (11) are vying to be the “Next Best Junior Chef”. Reading like a reality show, the contestants are taken through a series of instructions and challenges to see who has the most skill. Caroline comes from a restaurant family, Oliver is super confident (and the King of Calm), Tate is young and energetic, and Rae is precise and passionate. Facing the celebrity chefs, and dealing with a little bit of drama, “episode 1” is a lot of fun.
The drama is super mild (Rae faints and Oliver catches her) the competition is friendly - I’d have to say this is a sweet read. These kid-centered cooking shows are all the rage right now, so I can see that there is certainly interest for this title (and the sequel advertised on the back).
EL - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
August 21, 2017
Oliver, Caroline, Tate and Rae are the child contestants on Next Best Junior Chef, a hot new reality show featuring kids who can really cook. These kids have sophisticated, refined taste buds and have palates most parents only dream that their children might possess. Under the guidance of Chef Nancy, these children compete in mini-challenges, lessons, and finally an elimination challenge, sending one of the children home at the end of book #1. What kind of obstacles, internal and external, will they run up against along the way?
This fast paced novel truly gives the flavor of the speed of a reality TV show and gives sneak peaks of some of the behind the scenes tricks that they probably use, especially for their younger contestants. Fans of reality shows and cooking shows will be drawn to this novel, and may even be inspired to do some cooking of their own by the end.
A fun, satisfying read! I look forward to the sequel!
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
This fast paced novel truly gives the flavor of the speed of a reality TV show and gives sneak peaks of some of the behind the scenes tricks that they probably use, especially for their younger contestants. Fans of reality shows and cooking shows will be drawn to this novel, and may even be inspired to do some cooking of their own by the end.
A fun, satisfying read! I look forward to the sequel!
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
December 31, 2018
I agree with Megan's review, this book felt scant on plot. I also didn't like that this was told from omniscient POV, we never really were allowed to get close to any single character. I prefer stories told in close personal third myself, so I can FEEL something. Not bad, it read a lot like the British Bake-off shows that are popular with my teenage daughter, but I find it hard to believe 9-12 year old kids could ever pull off the kinds of think-fast, spur-of-the-moment recipes featured in this show. They just don't have the life experience. But it was an interesting enough and quick read. Bizarre mix of the adult-level baking and the more basic childhood experiences such as gathering eggs on the farm and clipping herbs. But I didn't feel much of anything when one contestant was eliminated. And was I rooting for anyone to win? I don't know them well enough to care. Meh. 2.5 stars rounded up. Will I read episode 2? Probably not.
March 20, 2017
I love watching Food Network, so when I read the blurb for this book I knew I had to read it. This book was entertaining from the start. I was caught up in the nervousness and excitement of Rae, Caroline, Tate and Oliver as they learned how the show Next Best Junior Chef would work.
I learned a few cooking skills for myself. Anytime you can learn while reading is wonderful but it is even better when you learn while reading for entertainment. This book will definitely make it on the list for recommendations for when I sub in the school library. More and more kids are wanting to learn to cook and this book would be great for them. In the back of the book there is tutorial on how to hold a knife properly and cutting techniques.
My only disappointment: I have to wait until 2018 to read the next two books in the series. How will I be able to wait?
You do not have to be a kid to enjoy this book. Everyone will be able to find enjoyment out of reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin for an ARC copy of this book for a review that was honest and my own.
I learned a few cooking skills for myself. Anytime you can learn while reading is wonderful but it is even better when you learn while reading for entertainment. This book will definitely make it on the list for recommendations for when I sub in the school library. More and more kids are wanting to learn to cook and this book would be great for them. In the back of the book there is tutorial on how to hold a knife properly and cutting techniques.
My only disappointment: I have to wait until 2018 to read the next two books in the series. How will I be able to wait?
You do not have to be a kid to enjoy this book. Everyone will be able to find enjoyment out of reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin for an ARC copy of this book for a review that was honest and my own.
January 3, 2019
I feel like this was really well written. I liked how the characters developed through the series and how it was formatted with speech bubbles for the interviews, breaking up the monotony of regular novel format and also making it easy to distinguish between characters and actually use the interview in the story.
I quite like that a lot of this was behind the scenes of the making of the show, and how it was not all shown as beautiful and perfect, but that it also shows how drama can be manufactured for the camera, even in a reality competition.
This was well paced and enjoyable. I do believe I will read the rest of the series to find out who wins the competition, though I have my own prediction.
I think the "cooking" tips for how to use knives at the end was pretty cool as well.
I definitely would be likely to recommend this to kids.
I quite like that a lot of this was behind the scenes of the making of the show, and how it was not all shown as beautiful and perfect, but that it also shows how drama can be manufactured for the camera, even in a reality competition.
This was well paced and enjoyable. I do believe I will read the rest of the series to find out who wins the competition, though I have my own prediction.
I think the "cooking" tips for how to use knives at the end was pretty cool as well.
I definitely would be likely to recommend this to kids.
October 7, 2017
Reading like a reality show, the contestants are taken through a series of instructions and challenges to see who has the most skill. Caroline comes from a restaurant family, Oliver is super confident (and the King of Calm), Tate is young and energetic, and Rae is precise and passionate. Facing the celebrity chefs, and dealing with a little bit of drama, “episode 1” is a lot of fun.
The drama is super mild (Rae faints and Oliver catches her) the competition is friendly - I’d have to say this is a sweet read. These kid-centered cooking shows are all the rage right now, so I can see that there is certainly interest for this title (and the sequel advertised on the back).
Cross posted to: http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
The drama is super mild (Rae faints and Oliver catches her) the competition is friendly - I’d have to say this is a sweet read. These kid-centered cooking shows are all the rage right now, so I can see that there is certainly interest for this title (and the sequel advertised on the back).
Cross posted to: http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
June 24, 2018
Cooking shows are so popular with all ages these days, especially kids. The four junior chefs competing for the ultimate title in Next Best Junior Chef are depicted convincingly. This realistic tale is reminiscent of many reality cooking competition shows, as well as Project Runway. The knife tips in the back of the book are helpful, and all of the cooking tips included from each of the four junior chefs, while creating their best creations will be helpful for young readers, "A good chef plated in odd numbers, threes or fives....Asymmetry, an uneven plate, was always more interesting." Recipes in the back of the book would have made a great addition. Kids who love to cook will enjoy this delicious tale.
November 9, 2018
Normally I only give a book 4 or 5 stars if it meets a writing standard. The writing is average, but the content makes this book a winner. Reality TV has a big market in today's entertainment industry. Kids are no exception. Many of them watch the Kid's Baking Championship on the Food Network and this book is written for those kids.
Four contestants are showcasing their culinary skills through a series of challenges, hoping to be the last chef standing. Just like the TV program, the story pauses to show the side interviews. At the end, one of the contestants is eliminated. I'm assuming there will be three books, with the winner revealed at the end of the 3rd.
I plan to put this book on my fiction/nonfiction display, paired with a cookbook.
Four contestants are showcasing their culinary skills through a series of challenges, hoping to be the last chef standing. Just like the TV program, the story pauses to show the side interviews. At the end, one of the contestants is eliminated. I'm assuming there will be three books, with the winner revealed at the end of the 3rd.
I plan to put this book on my fiction/nonfiction display, paired with a cookbook.
July 29, 2017
What a fun take on cooking competitions. I like the 4 chefs. I like how the competition is set up and how readers learn a bit about how tv shows are staged. The drama may not be real. We don't see everything in real time - there's more help than we are lead to believe.
It's also fun to learn how these kids each developed their passions and skills. Who will be the ultimate winner? I guess we'll find out in the 4th book. I wonder if all the characters will continue to be in each book, or once you're eliminated you're also gone from the series. We'll find out soon.
If you're interested in cooking, this book's a great one for middle grade readers.
It's also fun to learn how these kids each developed their passions and skills. Who will be the ultimate winner? I guess we'll find out in the 4th book. I wonder if all the characters will continue to be in each book, or once you're eliminated you're also gone from the series. We'll find out soon.
If you're interested in cooking, this book's a great one for middle grade readers.
March 29, 2018
Follow young chefs Rae, Oliver, Tate and Caroline as they compete in a reality show cooking competition. The story unfolds in a "behind the scenes" look at mini-challenges and interviews leading up to the final challenge - and elimination round.
As the children grow the reader finds things to like - and dislike about each of the main characters. I found myself pulling for different characters at various points in the book and beeing wildly disappointed when one needed to be eliminated. I am looking forward to seeing how the remaining characters develop in the other books in the series.
As the children grow the reader finds things to like - and dislike about each of the main characters. I found myself pulling for different characters at various points in the book and beeing wildly disappointed when one needed to be eliminated. I am looking forward to seeing how the remaining characters develop in the other books in the series.
August 7, 2018
This book was so fun, well-done, and creative!! It’s a perfect confidence builder for middle elementary readers, especially anyone who enjoys cooking shows, particularly the ones focused on kids cooking like master chef Junior.
I loved the format of this book with a good number of pictures, but also speech bubbles with “interviews” and behind the scenes footage of what it is really like to be filmed on one of these shows.
Sure this wasn’t great literature, but it was super fun and I’m so glad that books like this are being written.
I loved the format of this book with a good number of pictures, but also speech bubbles with “interviews” and behind the scenes footage of what it is really like to be filmed on one of these shows.
Sure this wasn’t great literature, but it was super fun and I’m so glad that books like this are being written.
May 25, 2017
Read on NetGalley. Four kids who love to cook compete on a cooking show. Rae is anxious, Oliver says he is the King of Calm, Caroline is convinced she and Rae will be great friends (spoiler alert, they do), and Tate is fidgety. The kids learn how a cooking show is made as they go through the challenges, such as No Looking At The Camer. One of the kids is voted off the show by the end of the book. Lots of fancy ingredients and cooking terms are sprinkled throughout.
August 4, 2017
2.5 could make it to 3 maybe--I thought this was supposed to be a middle grade book but it reads more like upper elementary. It's very basic which is fine if you're not looking for the depth I've come to expect from middle grade. I do like the interview blurbs which are illustrated with word bubbles as opposed to being written as regular dialogue. As someone who loves Masterchef and it's junior edition I was excited to give this a whirl but it wasn't my cup of tea.
September 23, 2017
My eleven-year-old sister is obsessed with cooking competition shows (her favorite is Guy's Grocery Games), so when I received an email with this listed in new releases, I knew I had to get it for her. She said the story moved a little slowly in the beginning, but she loved all of the characters and could not put the book down. Now she is upset ;) that she has to wait for the rest of the books in the series to come out.
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