Kids can bake Recipes for budding bakers

Gr 4--7--Enthusiastic young bakers will enjoy putting their skills to the test as they tackle the snacks and treats within this short, instructive cookbook. It highlights traditional British tastes with some minor European influence. Thirty distinct recipes ranging in complexity are organized in sections by type of baked good. Many require a strong degree of attention and precision. Occasional inclusion of recipe variations allows bakers to customize basic recipes like cookies and muffins. Hand-drawn illustrations with pictures of needed ingredients, recipe steps, and the final dish are featured on the recipe pages. Steps like kneading, rolling, and mixing depict illustrated hands of different skin tones. Cookbook users who prefer photographs may be underwhelmed by this design choice, which lessens the appeal of certain dishes. Preceding the recipes is a short set of informative content that includes kitchen safety tips, common equipment, and explanations of basic techniques like folding in ingredients and lining a cake pan. VERDICT Purchase for collections in need of baking-themed cookbooks for tweens.