Product Description

A Cookbook for Preschoolers & Up

Together with her co-author, educator Ann Henderson, cookbook author Mollie Katzen believes it's never too early to introduce children to the creative world of cookery in a fun, healthful way. For small children, exploring food and cooking is not just about eating, it can be a playful activity and a way to learn new skills. As an educational experience, consider all the things a child can learn in the kitchen: counting, symbol recognition, reading readiness, self-confidence, use of tools, food literacy, and more.

Pretend Soup brings the grown-up world of real cooking to a child's level. Each vegetarian recipe is presented on double-page spreads, two per recipe. Full of Mollie's well-loved warmth and whimsical artistry, the first spread details the ingredients, safety tips, and a familiar version of the recipe for the prep cook: the adult. The second spread presents the recipe pictorally for the child and introduces a few easy-to-read words - your child moves from the usual role of helper to head cook.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38502 in Books
• Published on: 1994-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 96 pages

Amazon.com
Pretend Soup has rapidly become the children's cookbook classic, and no home or daycare center should be without a copy. Mollie Katzen, author of the Moosewood Cookbook, and educator Ann Henderson have created a masterpiece formatted for grown-ups--with written instructions, suggestions, and caveats--and for kids--with illustrated, easy-to-follow pictures. The recipes are both tasty and healthy, and the quotes from kids are very funny (Matthew: "This is so good, I can't even say a word.") While safety is stressed and tips and warnings are included, Katzen and Henderson always stress the fun in food preparation. "Spills are what sponges are for. So keep plenty of sponges around, and a good time will be had by all!"

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-The theme of this fine cookbook is that cooking is a many-splendored thing. The book's purpose is "to enable very young children to cook as independently as possible under the gentle guidance of an adult partner." Each of the 17 recipes appears twice, once in words and once in full-color pictures. The child is the focus here: attention is paid to physical ability, comfortable work levels, and variety of tactile experience. A long list of skills and attitudes children can gain from cooking supports the idea that the process is more important than the product. Quotes reflect the young cooks' keen observation and joyful participation. Parents' Nursery School's Kids Are Natural Cooks (Houghton, 1974) also uses natural foods and has the same intent as this title. That book is arranged by season and contains more recipes; Pretend Soup focuses more on the processes. Anyone who works or plays with young children would benefit by having both.
Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, ME
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Katzen (of Moosewood Cookbook fame) teamed up with educator Henderson to produce this cookbook directed to very young children. It includes wonderful input from kids who've found their way into the kitchen: "I thought it was going to be gross, but it turned out good!" "I smell some pizza, dudes!" But the real joy is in the shared experience the book promotes. Each recipe begins with instructions to grown-ups, who function mainly as kitchen helpers and safety monitors. Kids can really do most of the work themselves by referring to simple, carefully sequenced sketches designed especially for them. As far as the recipes are concerned, kids and parents will be in for a nice surprise, for there's not a hot dog or chicken finger in evidence. Instead, we're talking real food--popovers, homemade lemon-lime soda pop, noodle soup, and quesadillas--delivered in recipes nicely scaled down for children to manage easily. Stephanie Zvirin

Customer Reviews

so-so
This product was not as described. While in overall decent condition, I would have listed it as being in "Fair" condition, not "Good". The cover was dirty and the corners bent, but otherwise, fine.

Great book!
Pretend Soup is great. Love the illustrations and kid friendly directions. The recipes are not only healthy, but they taste great! And a good variety too.

Don't let the vegetarian status of this turn you off if you are die-hard meat eaters. Really who wants to deal with food safety of meats with preschoolers anyway?

I LOVED this book when I was a kid
My mom got me this book when I was a little kid - about 14 years ago, I think. This was my FAVORITE cookbook growing up, and I used it for years. All the recipes are healthy and delicious! The Zucchini Moons were my favorite, but I made just about every recipe in this book. Now I'm a college student, and my mom sent me my old copy in a package a few months ago. This morning I was inspired and whipped up some pretend soup, and it's still delicious :) this book is a classic that I will keep for many years to come.