Book Review: "Handstand Kids Mexican Cookbook" by Yvette Garfield

Title: Book Review: "Handstand Kids Mexican Cookbook" by Yvette Garfield

Author: Jennifer A. Wickes

Words: 420

Handstand Kids offers another excellent book for kids who like to cook.  After their successful first cookbook (Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook, 2007), they have followed up with a Mexican recipe book.

Yvette Garfield created Handstand Kids as a way to help educate children to learn how to cook, to find out about other cultures and languages, but also to encourage community involvement.  The cast of characters in Handstand Kids reminds me of the cast of Sesame Street with children of different ethnicities and one child that is even in a wheelchair.

In their latest book, Cricket Azima, a noted chef that teaches children how to cook healthy foods in New York City, developed the recipes.  Azima can also be seen in Kiwi Magazine (May Media Group), a family magazine encouraging a healthier lifestyle.

To review a children's cookbook, what would be the optimum way to approach it?  Well, to me it seemed obvious, give it to my children!  They were very excited as Handstand Kids has a way of presenting their cookbooks in a fun and clever manner.  The first book on Italian food was presented in a pizza box and included a chef's toque!  This book was no different by coming in a tortilla bag and included an oven mitt!  Both of my children were very excited as this was like the toy in the cereal box!

They looked over the recipes and decided to try a couple.  My 5-year old loves cheese sandwiches, and he wanted to try and make the Grilled Cheese to Quesadillas.  He felt that the recipe was easy-to-follow and after spending time creating his own meal, he was interested in trying something new (he's not a fan of sour cream).  My 8-year old is an independent reader, and his motor skills are more refined, so he took on Tacos Terrificos.  He was very impressed with the outcome and felt that he had made the best meal ever!

With Internet, web cameras, the easy of traveling and satellite television, we are in an ever-shrinking world.  As parents, we need to help our children learn about different people, cultures, languages and to realize how lucky we are and how to help people in need.

I highly recommend this cookbook for all children.  The recipes are graded on skill level, so younger children and older kids can enjoy this book.  The recipes are healthy and offer choices (the taco recipe says to use fish, beef, chicken or tofu).  They are also easy-to-follow.  Not only will your children learn new cooking skills, but they will learn about Spanish, Mexican culture and how to utilize their new cooking skills to help people in need.  This would be a great idea for a gift, the library, as well as for elementary schools.

Title: Handstand Kids Mexican Cookbook

Author: Yvette Garfield

Publisher: Handstand Kids, 2008