Minecraft The crafter's kitchen : an official Minecraft cookbook for young chefs and their families

Gr 2--6--Based on the enduringly popular video game Minecraft, this is a cookbook with a bit of a different format. Chapters are based on various Minecraft biomes (regions), such as rivers, jungles, and mountains and roughly translate into appetizers, sides, mains, drinks, and desserts. There is a heavy environmental emphasis throughout: chapters begin with a few pages about different regions on Earth and the ecological threats that loom over them. Readers are encouraged to be stewards of the planet and are offered concrete suggestions to further that goal. As the book points out, here on Earth we can't generate a new world the way that one can in the Minecraft universe. The recipes are generally healthy and made with easy-to-find ingredients that won't break the bank. Directions are simple and easy to understand, with short sidebars supplying further information about the ingredients and techniques. Full-page color photos are interspersed with scenes from the game, and a character introduced as "the Gourmand" serves as a guide. Fans, eternally in search of more, will enjoy this offering. VERDICT Recommended for school and public libraries with a persistent Minecraft following.--Kate Newcombe

Introduction Whether you live in Minecraft like I do or whether you are a person living on Earth, there's something we all share: a love of good food! Who I am? You may call me the Gourmand. Why the Gourmand? I think of myself as something of a foodie, because I like to try out new foods I find during my adventures. I've traveled all over the place you know as Minecraft, going everywhere from the plains with bee's nests and chickens to deep into the jungles with melons and cocoa to high up in the mountains with rabbits. The garden at my home gives me all sorts of fruits and vegetables. I've been a happy eater. But then I learned about this place called Earth! Not only does Earth have all sorts of things to offer (even if it's missing important things like mooshrooms), but it also has so many more foods than I could ever have dreamed up. There I was, happily drinking my milk, having no idea you could use it to make yogurt, chocolate ice milk, cheese, and more. I was cheerfully chomping down on carrots with little pieces spraying everywhere, not realizing I could make a carrot salad. While adventuring around Earth looking for recipes, I also learned that you can't generate a new world here like you can in Minecraft. As I've observed Earth, I've come to realize that its beautiful environments are more fragile than they might seem, so taking good care of the world is important. This book includes some tips on sustainability, which is all about not harming the world, so we can all enjoy its bounties for years to come. You can get your friends and family involved and protect your world! But focusing on sustainability doesn't mean we can't have fun or eat wonderful foods! You know, just thinking about all these recipes is making me feel hungry. You can make every recipe with your family, snack on them while playing Minecraft, or prepare them for a birthday party. Come on, let's go exploring through these Minecraft-inspired recipes together! Bon appétit! Excerpted from The Crafter's Kitchen: an Official Minecraft Cookbook for Young Chefs and Their Families by The Official Minecraft Team All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.