Fun for Foodies

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer.

The residents of Culpepper, despite their grand aspirations, have made little progress toward achieving their goals, but unexpected events and surprises put the ambitions of the residents of Culpepper to the test (250 pages, RL 4.0).  

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer. 

When sixteen-year-old Hope and the aunt who has raised her move from Brooklyn to Mulhoney, Wisconsin, to work as waitress and cook in the Welcome Stairways diner, they become involved with the diner owner's political campaign to oust the town's corrupt mayor (186 pages, RL 5.1).

Pink Princess Cupcakes by Barbara Beery.

Presents creative ideas for princess-themed cupcakes, with recipes for basic cupcakes and frostings and tips on decorating the treats (63 pages, RL 5.9).

 

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling.

A boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate. While you're enjoying this book, check out Yum, Yum... Chocolate-Covered Reading Road Trip Books at Lafayette School Takes a Reading Road Trip (126 pages, RL 4.5).

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech.

With the help of her wise old grandmother, twelve-year-old Rosie manages to work out some problems in her relationship with her best friend, Bailey, the boy next door (141 pages, RL 4.5).

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation in his own way (155 pages, RL 5.3).

A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff.

Destiny leads 11-year-old Cady to a peanut butter factory, a family of children searching for their own Talents, and a Talent Thief who will alter her life forever. Includes cake recipes (230 pages, RL 5.2).

Farewell, My Lunchbag: From the Tattered Casebook of Chet Gecko, Private Eye by Bruce Hale.

When fourth-grade private eye Chet Gecko is called to catch someone who is stealing food from the school cafeteria, he finds himself framed for the crime.  This book is part of a series... if you like Chet Gecko, you can have another serving! (107 pages, RL 4.9).

Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood.

Twelve-year-old Rose Bliss wants to work magic in her family's bakery as her parents do, but when they are called away and Rose and her siblings are left in charge, the magic goes awry and a beautiful stranger tries to talk Rose into giving her the Bliss Cookery Booke (374 pages, RL 5.8).

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass.

Four gifted twelve-year-olds, including Logan, the candymaker's son, are set to be contestants in the Confectionary Association's national competition to determine the nation's tastiest sweet, but nobody anticipates that a friendship will form between the competitors (453 pages, RL 5.7).

 

Ben & Jerry: Ice Cream Manufacturers by Joanne Mattern.

Traces the development of Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield's ice cream business, discussing the childhoods of Ben and Jerry, the opening of their first ice cream shop, the company's transition to grocery store sales, and ways that the business gives back to the community (32 pages, RL 4.9).

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater.
Arthur goes to pick up the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner but comes back with a 266-pound chicken (101 pages, RL 4.9).

  

The Van Gogh Cafe by Cynthia Rylant.
The Van Gogh Cafe, located in Flowers, Kansas, has magic in its walls, causing strange and mysterious events to occur there (53 pages, RL 4.5).

  

The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop by Kate Saunders. 
Eleven-year-old twins Oz and Lily are recruited by a talking cat to assist her and MI6 in foiling the dastardly plans of their great-great-uncle, a chocolatier who used magic to make a candy that bestows immortality (293 pages, RL 6.0).

Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know about Fast Food by Eric Schlosser.

A look at fast food, what's in it, how it's made, and what it does to our bodies (318 pages, RL 7.4).

It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder.

Twelve-year-old Isabel dreams of seeing the world but has never left Oregon. When her best friend Sophie tells her of a baking contest whose winners travel to New York City, she eagerly enters despite concerns about her mother, who is opening a cupcake bakery. Includes recipes (193 pages, RL 3.9).

What's New, Cupcake? by Karen Tack.

Contains ideas and instructions for decorating cupcakes to look like other foods, animals, aliens, haunted houses, scarecrows, snowmen, and for a variety of occasions.  Includes recipes for different cupcake batters and frostings (227 pages, RL YA).

 

Super Simple Dinners: Easy No-Bake Recipes for Kids by Nancy Tuminelly.

Provides an introduction to cooking basics: tools, terms, ingredients,  and measuring tips. Features recipes for nine no-cook dinners, including saucy soup, pizza, and top chef salad (32 pages, RL 3.5).

Cool Pizza to Make and Bake: Easy Recipes for Kids to Cook by Lisa Wagner.

An introduction to cooking for kids, covering basic techniques, tools, terms, and ingredients.  Features recipes for pizza dough and different types of toppings, each with step-by-step instructions (32 pages, RL 4.6).

 

Pie by Sarah Weeks. 

Alice's Aunt Polly passes away and entrusts the recipe for her world-famous pie crust to her cat, which she leaves in Alice's care, and as everyone, including Alice, tries to discover the secret ingredients, Alice learns some important lessons about faith, love, and family (183 pages, RL 5.6).