Cookbook Review: Salad People

Another winner from Mollie Katzen! Like Pretend Soup, this is a cookbook for preschoolers that has the recipe written out for grown-ups followed by a 2-page spread of pictures and minimal reading required for the preschoolers. I really like this book--it's different from its predecessor in one main way: Pretend Soup has more "normal" recipes in it like French Toast, oatmeal, etc. Salad People has more recipes that are geared for groups of children. In fact, the title recipe is a BIG hit with my children because it involves them assembling and creating "people" from various ingredients. There are lots of recipes like that in Salad People ("tiny tacos," "polka dot rice," and others) along with recipes that one child can make and then serve to friends or family. "Sweet Potato Surprise" was a big hit here for dinner one night. Both cookbooks have a nice blend of solo and group recipes; we'll be trying the pizza from Pretend Soup as well as the counting soup from Salad People soon. And "Salad People" appear at lunchtime a LOT.