Elliot's Extraordinary Cookbook

I’ve been collecting children’s books that are related to food and cooking for the last five years. While my collection is small compared to the hundreds of books on the subject that are out there, I like to think that my collection is at least interesting and varied. I try to find books that are from small presses, or by lesser known artists and writers, I look for books that have wonderful illustrations and cultural influences. Books that are not easily found in the mainstream, have a way of ending up on my bookshelf.

Elliot’s Extraordinary Cookbook is a charming little book that I recently discovered in a shabby old used bookstore (the best kind) during a weekend trip to Virginia. Written and illustrated by the same women that gave us Linnea in Monet’s Garden, Christina Bjork and Lena Anderson have once again created a wonderful book for children of ALL ages.

from inside front jacket flap:

Elliot loves to cook. Luckily, his upstairs neighbor Stella Delight knows all about food because she worked as a cook on a boat when she was young.   With Stella’s help, Elliot discovers the potato’s amazing possibilities in soup, pancakes, and sandwiches; he prepares his favorite vegetables, from artichokes to beets; he makes his own butter, cheese, and ice cream; and he bakes rye bread and cinnamon buns with live yeast- and an apple tart for Stella’s birthday!   But Elliot doesn’t just eat. He also investigates what’s healthy and what’s not so healthy, and finds out about protein, carbohydrates, and even the workings of the small intestine. He learns the history of chickens (long ago, they lived in the jungles of Asia) and how a cow produces milk. His neighbor Linnea shows him how to grow bean sprouts, Elliot sews an apron, starts a supper club with his friend Arthur, and has a party complete with place cards and tropical drinks.   Filled with easy, delicious recipes and brimming with Elliot’s infectious enthusiasm, this book will appeal to food lovers of all ages.

Lena Anderson’s illustrations are lovely and playful and bring to life the story of Elliot and his friend Stella. We get to meet old friends like Linnea who got to go to France and meet some of Monet’s family, (Linnea in Monet’s Garden is a wonderful book too), and new friend’s like Arthur, who is a picky eater and doesn’t like spicy, sour or hard to chew food. The book is filled with simple recipes that younger children (with the help of a grownup) can easily follow and older children should have no problem fixing; mashed potatoes, potato soup, cranberry yogurt, mushroom-in-the-woods, a dish for two people (who like spinach), whole-wheat braid, custard sauce and so much more. Not just a cookbook, but a storybook wrapped around a book about cooking, nutrition and science, it’s hard not to spend an hour or two sipping tea and being charmed by this little book.

Written by Deb on October 9, 2003 12:00 PM