cover image My 1st Cook Bk

My 1st Cook Bk

Angela Wilkes. Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, $15 (48pp) ISBN 978-0-394-80427-9

Spicy cookies, speedy pizzas and silly sundaes are only a few of the recipes for children in this nifty introductory cookbook. Magnificent photographs throughout this oversized book chronicle each recipe from start to yummy finish. A visual introduction shows how to ``cook by pictures,'' lists cook's rules, displays cooking tools and explains a symbol that means ``ask an adult for help.'' Each double-page spread shows ingredients in heaps and mounds with a diagram of required utensils, and smaller sets of photos show a pair of young hands going through each step. Snazzy decorating ideas transform an ice-cream sundae into a bumblebee and a roll into a snail or a teddy bear. Quiche, potato boats and pizza complement the desserts (pastry, fruit tarts, even chocolate truffles) on the ``menu.'' Children will be hard-pressed to say whether making or eating the recipes is more fun. Ages 7-up. (Sept.)