20 recipes kids should know by Esme Washburn, photographs by Calista Washburn

I think this is the first kids' cookbook that teaches you how to cook steak! Come to think of it, I've never cooked steak... It's created by two sisters, ages 12 and 17 (the younger wrote it and tested the recipes and the older took the photographs). I'm always interested in the newer type of kids' cookbook that teaches real cooking skills, and this is a fun addition to that genre.

The introduction covers measurements, safety, and a glossary of commonly used cooking terms. Each recipe is introduced with a little story from the author. The recipes are pancakes, banana bread, omelets, macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, black bean soup, hummus, salad and dressing, breaded chicken, steak, pizza (including the crust), pasta with tomato sauce or pesto (including making the pasta), mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry shortcake, apple pie, bread, and popovers.

As you can see there's a wide variety in the recipes, from simple (grilled cheese sandwiches) to more time-consuming and complex (pasta and bread by hand). Each recipe has a mouth-watering photo, clear list of prep time, ingredients, and directions. The book itself is an over-sized hardcover with colorful text and information about and photos of the authors in the back.

Verdict: I don't know that I'd agree that every kid needs to know how to cook these specific recipes, but they do include a nice variety, in ingredients, cost and tastes, and paired with a book that teaches more specific cooking skills, like my favorite How to cook in 10 easy lessons, this is a great resource to encourage kids to try some cooking on their own.

ISBN: 9783791385075; Published April 2019 by Prestel; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library