Get Your Benicia Kids Cooking This Summer

Usually I go for the picture book with the cleverest humor, but today’s selection in just a wonderful look about how our lives and homes have changed throughout the years. Books that give kids perspective are such a powerful tool and are able to both teach and entertain - a winning combination.

Don’t forget to visit my website at www.onegreatbook.com so that you won’t miss a story that will make you so grateful for your grocery store and food processor! This book did make me a little more generous about cooking diner last night!

Title: A Fine Dessert

Author: Emily Jenkins & Sophie Blackall

Target: Kindergarten - Grade 3

What this book is about:
This book profiles the preparation and enjoyment of the dessert Blackberry Fool over four centuries. We start in the 1700’s when children milked the cows and beat the cream with a bundle of twigs in order to prepare the dessert. In the 1800’s the dessert is prepared by slaves who serve it to their masters. In the early 1900’s the dessert must still cool in an ice box and by 2010, it is a boy and his father who cook the delicious delicacy.

Why I love this book:
This book is a wonderful way to look at the evolution of not only the technology of cooking methods but also society. From a cooking perspective we go from wood twigs to a beater, a hillside cooler to an electric refrigerator and fingers and muslim to a food processor.

From a societal perspective we go from women only in the kitchen to a boy and his father cooking desert. We go from slaves doing the cooking to blended families where everyone is welcome at the table!

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and Blackall has a modern Tasha Tudor vibe going which is incredibly appealing. The recipe for the dessert is included at the end of the book and I am sure most kids will be excited about trying it after reading the story!

Who this book is for:
Great book for all kids and is a fun way to look at how our lives have evolved.

Final thoughts:
Even my fruit hating sons were anxious to try this dessert after reading the book. I will get a blackberry into them yet!

I am a mom of three with a passion for literature! No matter what book series our kids devour, as they come to an end, we as parents ask the inevitable question - what is next? I am ever on the job, trying to answer that question. I try to do it with a variety of books. Some are silly, some true to life, some pure fantasy, but in the end I hope they make my children love words, explore new ideas, and laugh!