Look I'm a Cook (Look! I'm Learning)

Helping kick off the Look series, this welcoming activity book invites children to enter the kitchen with their senses wide open. Bright photographs illustrate step-by-step directions for 11 dishes, including guacamole, meringues, bread, and chocolate pears; a cartoon boy in a toque adds commentary throughout. Clipboard-style sidebars encourage readers to think about what they are seeing, feeling, and tasting ("Does the avocado change color? Does the lime juice taste sour and acidic?"), and the book also delves into the science behind several recipes. It's an accessible introduction to cooking that emphasizes observation, curiosity, and experimentation. Simultaneously available: Look I'm a Scientist. Ages 3-7. (June)

PreS-Gr 2--This new nonfiction series from DK introduces preschool and early elementary school children to basic science and cooking activities. Both books begin with a brief guide for grown-ups, a table of contents, and a spread suggesting questions to ask and how to use one's senses when doing the activities. The projects are simple but enticing. I'm a Cook contains recipes for making guacamole, bread, hard-boiled eggs, and rainbow ice, while I'm a Scientist includes activities such as making slime, playdough, shaving-cream snow, and wind catchers. Some of the activities and recipes are followed by ways to extend the project: for example, turning homemade bread into bruschetta or making aliens with slime. The pages are colorful and appealing, with lots of accompanying photos. Unlike in many activity books for kids, the instructions extend beyond the typical two-page format, resulting in a much cleaner layout. Although most of the crafts will require some adult assistance, they are all straightforward enough for kids to play an active role. VERDICT These bright, fun activity guides would make good additions to preschool classrooms and early elementary library collections.--Ashley Larsen, Pacifica Libraries, CA