shows. No cuisine is off limits for me nor is there an age restriction for the contestants. In fact, I really like watching kids cook and bake. I am amazed at the skills I have seen these young chefs and bakers display. They are far more talented than I am in the kitchen. At times I wish I had spent more time with culinary arts. I also wish I had spent more time in the kitchen with my children learning how to cook and bake with them. One of my fondest memories with my kids is making sugar cookies at Christmas time. They weren’t the most beautifully decorated and probably tasted too floury for most, but we had so much fun. This holiday season I thought it would be good to look at some cookbooks written for young aspiring chefs and bakers, and for those who just want to have fun making food with the children in their lives.

One of the cutest trends in cookbooks that I have seen in the last few years is creating recipes that relate to a specific book, movie, or video game. This year the library purchased a few of them including, The Unofficial Super Mario Cookbook by Tom Grimm (Junior 641.5 Grimm). Super Mario fans will love this cookbook that features full sized color photographs of recipes inspired by favorite games like Super Mushrooms or Magma Burgers. Featuring simple recipes with everyday ingredients this cookbook is sure to please the pickiest eaters and novice cooks. The bonus section of this cookbook includes tips and tricks, and fun-facts about Super Mario and crew.

Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat! Official Cookbook by Tara Theoharis (Junior 641.5 Theoharis) is another great video game tie-in cookbook for children. This one features full color photos and clear step-by-step instructions to help you construct Baked Potato Bites or create Buried Treasure Pie. This book includes 40 recipes for every occasion from snacks to decadent desserts. There is something for everyone!

The Official Harry Potter Cookbook by Joanna Farrow (Junior 641.5127 Farrow) includes more than 40 recipes inspired by the Harry Potter movies. Conjure up some Owl Post savory crepes, or Hagrid’s Hearty Soup with the detailed instructions and color photographs. This cookbook features plenty of cooking tips and advice for beginning cooks no matter what their skill level. This cookbook includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Kid Kitchen: Fun & Easy Recipes You Can Make All By Yourself! (Or With Just a Little Help) by Heather Staller (Junior 641.5 Staller) Regardless of your skill level there is a recipe in this cookbook for you. You can start with level 1: Easy Peasy recipes that include only a few ingredients and really simple steps with no or little heat or knives involved. And as you read and cook through the book you can graduate to the more complicated level 3: Challenge Accepted recipes that include more time, knife skills and using the stove or oven with a grown-up’s supervision.

Cooking from Scratch for Teens: Make Your Own Healthy & Delicious food by Lisa Burns (641.5 Burns) Burns is the creator of the cooking and lifestyle blog, This Pilgrim Life. While guiding her own teen through the process of cooking she created this simple and easy to use cookbook. Teens can easily take their snack game from frozen burritos to Awesome Black Bean Taquitos and amaze their friends by ditching boxed mac ‘n’ cheese for Homestyle Baked Mac ‘n’ Cheese.

Please ask at the Children’s desk if there is something you’re looking for and can’t find right away; we’re here to help. And check out our monthly calendar of programming. We offer a variety of activities for all ages, from story time to anime club for teens. You can find more information on our website at www.newulmlibrary.org on the Library Events page.

The library is located at 17 N. Broadway and is open to the public Monday to Thursdays 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday and Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.