Kids Can Cook Vegetarian (Esther Coombs)

Hello, friends! Our book today is Kids Can Cook Vegetarian, illustrated by Esther Coombs, third in Button Books’s series of kid-friendly cookbooks for young chefs.

Kids can cook, but not every kid or family eats meat! So for little ones who love to cook meat-free meals, the Kids Can Cook series is back with a collection of simple and accessible recipes for chefs in the making. Separated into “Snacks & sides,” “Main meals,” and “Sweet treats,” little ones – with help from their trusted adults, of course – can try their hand at thirty-two recipes, including muffin pizzas, halloumi burgers, carrot hot dogs, zucchini brownies, and much more.

Another delicious edition! These cookbooks are a personal favorite of our family, as we’ve had a ton of fun in our kitchen with recipes from Kids Can Cook and Kids Can Bake. The directions for each recipe are clear and written in kid-accessible language, the illustrations add charm while giving visual context for the steps, and learning kitchen safety as well as culinary basics is emphasized. All the recipes are meat-free naturally, using symbols to indicate further if they are vegan and/or gluten-free as well, and the variety and creativity of the collective is wonderful. JJ was super excited to try some of these new recipes, especially the homemade fruit and root roll-ups. Overall, I would recommend this series to anyone, but for vegetarian kids and families, this one is a must. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Great Lives In Graphics (Button Books)

Hello, friends! We’re bringing you a special weekend review and taking a look at the latest titles in Button Books’ Great Lives In Graphics series, which introduces notable figures from history in a kid-friendly, infographic-style format.

Did you know that William Shakespeare invented 1,700 words? Or that Frida Kahlo painted over 200 paintings in her lifetime? Did you know Jane Austen invented a writing technique called “free indirect speech” that changed the fiction genre forever? Or that Nikola Tesla could speak eight languages and had a photographic memory? Young readers can learn these fascinating factoids and more, laid out in a colorful and engaging infographic style that is sure to leave the audience with a better understanding of these fascinating figures.

We’ve reviewed a couple of titles from this series before, and these six new additions – covering Tesla, Shakespeare, Austen, Kahlo, Mozart, and Einstein – are equally edifying and fun. Information on the luminaries’ lives, the time periods and societies in which they lived, and the lasting impact of their work are all organized into infographics that are packed with facts but never overwhelming, and are perfect for grabbing the attention of elementary to middle-grade readers. Occasionally, some of the details or subjects covered can feel a little extraneous (such as the biological mechanics of how we hear sound in Mozart’s biography), but most are enriching and often fun; a particular favorite for me was the Regency Name Generator in Austen’s book, and JJ loved the Shakespeare Insult Generator. Overall, these are incredible ways to gets kids engaged in historical figures and events, and we highly recommend them. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: Copies of these books were provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Kids Can Bake: Recipes for Budding Bakers (Esther Coombs)

Hello, friends! Our book today is Kids Can Bake: Recipes for Budding Bakers, illustrated by Esther Coombs, a kid-friendly recipe book of baked goodies and treats.

Baking: it’s not just for grown-ups! This time around, Button Books brings a solid collection of recipes for baked goods, from the savory to the sweet, written and organized for young chefs. Featuring 30 recipes like beef empanadas, macarons, cake pops, profiteroles, and many more, kids can try their hand at tasty culinary treats (with adult supervision, of course).

Another winner! We were big fans of Kids Can Cook, and this is a great sequel to that delightful title. Once again, the recipes chosen are great for kids, and broken down into very easy-to-follow instructions. Coomb’s illustrations are colorful and engaging, and do a great job of making the food look scrumptious and giving helpful visual aides to the instructions. Basic techniques, an equipment guide, and safety guidelines are important and welcome additions to the opening of the book. JJ really enjoyed the few recipes we tried, and she’s excited to try more. Again, a great title for budding chefs and bakers, and a worthy sequel that matches all the charm of the original. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Button Books Activity Books (Button Books)

Hello, friends! Time for another BONUS gift guide review. Today, we’re looking at a lineup of activity books from our friends at Button Books: Roman Adventure Activity Book by Jen Alliston, The Magical Underwater Activity Book by Mia Underwood, and Nature Activity Book by Alain Grée!

Activity books make great gifts and stocking stuffers for little bookworms, and these three titles cover a wide range of interests. In Roman Adventure, young historians can learn about Roman art, architecture, and society while completing puzzles, mazes, and wordsearches. Outdoorsy readers can color, connect the dots, and spot the difference in Nature. And fans of undersea adventure can learn about the creatures of the deep (and maybe even spot a mermaid or two) with paper crafts, story prompts, and secret codes in Magical Underwater. All three feature over 100 stickers to play with, and tons of fun to be found.

We’re huge fans of Button Books’ lineup of activity books, and these are no different. Rather than the typical collection of coloring pages and puzzles, these contain tons of educational material in a sturdy, high-quality books that can hold up to the curious and creative. JJ is particularly fond of Underwood’s work – her delightfully quirky illustrations and cheerful color palettes are always a treat. Any of these would make a great gift, and we highly recommend them. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Great Lives in Graphics (Button Books)

Hello, friends! Since it’s the holiday season, we’re bringing you some BONUS gift guide reviews this month! For today’s review, we have the Great Lives in Graphics series by Button Books, an eye-catching look at famous figures from history.

In these slim yet delightfully comprehensive and detailed volumes, readers can learn about historical figures like Cleopatra, Martin Luther King, Jr., Anne Frank, and more! Learn about the discriminatory laws of King’s time, compare what Stephen Hawking and Einstein had in common, see layouts of the secret annex that Frank lived in while in hiding, find out how Cleopatra achieved her legendary signature makeup look, and more. Pages packed with infographics and fun facts cover not only the lives of these luminaries, but the worlds they lived in and the legacies they left behind.

Informative and engaging. Infographic layouts are always a great approach to make learning fun, and these middle-grade biographical titles are as entertaining to look at as they are to read. The information presented covers both the elementary and the esoteric; for instance, kids can learn about the world’s deadliest snakes in addition to Cleopatra’s venomous demise. The four subjects pictured are available now, with biographies on Nikola Tesla, Frida Kahlo, Jane Austen and more coming in the new year. We would absolutely recommend this for curious middle-grade readers, especially those interested in world history. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)