Kids Cooking and Learning Through Food Activities

Title: Kids Cooking and Learning Through Food Activities
Author: Amy Houts
Genre: Education, Children's Non-Fiction
Publisher: Snaptail Press
Publication Date: March 2011
eBook: Available in Kindle format
Pages: 44

Synopsis 

Kids Cooking and Learning Through Food Activities is a great activity book that has cute ideas on ways to use cooking as a springboard for many learning activities. Each recipe is a complete lesson plan including a lesson purpose, a list of supplies and ingredients, details on preparing and making the recipe, discussion questions and springboard related activities. Concepts such as the five senses, classification, descriptive words, identifying colors and numbers, and many other basic skills are taught through the preparation of delicious recipes.

Some recipes can be made without the use of a stove or over; others do need those, but heat activities are clearly marked and safety concerns are addressed. 

What others are saying 

Kids Cooking and Learning Through Food Activities was nominated for a Dan Poyner eBook Award in the Education category in June, 2012. After review by a variety of judges, it was chosen as a finalist in that category.

"Children love to cook and help in the kitchen! Here is the direction parents and others who work with children need in planning activities and learning adventures. There are so many concepts that can be taught through cooking activities: math, science, cooperation and sharing, using all 5 senses to enjoy food experience, classifying colors, identifying shapes, teaching about good nutrition, and so much more. Easy but effective way to teach children important concepts." R.L. Jackson

About the Author 

 Amy Houts is the author of over 32 children's books and cookbooks. They include:

• Dora the Explorer Preschool Adventure. Learning Horizons
• Dora the Explorer Addition. Learning Horizons.
• Dora the Explorer Subtraction. Learning Horizons
• Dora the Explorer Safety. Learning Horizons
• Dora the Explorer Trace & Draw. Learning Horizons
• Winifred Witch and her Very Own Cat. Dalmatian Press
• On the Farm. Dalmatian Press.
• The Princess and the Pea. Dalmatian Press.
• An A*B*C Christmas. Standard Publishing

• Cooking Around the Country with Kids. Images Unlimited

• Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids. Images Unlimited

• Learning Through Cooking Activities. Preschool Publications

Read more in an interview with Amy Houts. 

 More Cooking with Kids Ideas

Reviewing Amy Houts' book reminded me of my own article, Cooking with Kids: Informal Teaching and Learning which is also about ways to use cooking to teach many school-related concepts.

~~~~~~

Irene Taylor received her copy of  Kids Cooking and Learning Through Food Activities as a judge in the 2012 Dan Poynter eBook Awards program. She can be reached through this website or email her.

Copyright 2012 Irene Taylor. The copyright of the review of Kids Cooking and Learning Through Food Activities in My Book Blog: eBook Reviews is owned by Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.

The High School Survival Guide

Cover courtesy of Dan Poynter Global eBook Awards

 Title: The High School Survival Guide
 Author: Ally Mosher, Tracy Keith with photography by Darren Phillips
Genre: Non-fiction teen literature
Publisher: MoshPit Publishing
Publication Date: 2011
eBook: Available in PDF format from Thermoshop
Pages: 158

 Synopsis 

The High School Survival Guide, winner in the 2012 Teen Literature Non-Fiction category in the Dan Poynter Global eBook Awards, is a down to earth, hands on handbook to help teen survive high school.

This is a fun and teen-friendly ebook which takes on on all aspects of being a teenaged girl. The look is more like a magazine – lots of color, many great pictures, text boxes and dialog – all aimed to make this easily read and fun to read! It is a great guide for teen girls – and offers tips, advice and examples of real situations. It is  broken into sections on school life, home life, social life, love life, work life and inner life. All in all, this ebook is a fun read!!

What Others are Saying

The High School Survival Guide was nominated for a Dan Poyner eBook Award in the Teen Literature Non-Fiction category in June, 2012. After review by a variety of judges, it was chosen as the winner in that category.

The High School Survival Guide is a "full-colour, highly visual book for 11-14 year old girls - designed to be a keepsake through their high school years. The book’s focus is inspiring confidence and self-acceptance, and this message is communicated through practical advice for day-to-day high school situations, a guide to getting a job, dating and friendship advice, and tips for home and family."  MoshPit Publishing Media Kit

The High School Survival Guide can be found on Facebook, too!

Irene Taylor received her copy of The High School Survival Guide as a judge in the 2012 Dan Poynter eBook Awards program. She can be reached through this website or email her.

Copyright 2012 Irene Taylor. The copyright of the review of The High School Survival Guide in My Book Blog: eBook Reviews is owned by Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.

Eliza's Forever Trees

 Title: Eliza's Forever Trees
Author: Stephanie Lisa Tara
Genre: Children's fiction
Publisher: Stephanie Tara
Publication Date: June 2011
eBook: available on Kindle
Pages: 148

Synopsis 

Eliza's Forever Trees is a lovely story about a little girl's search to find her mother. Using the device of a nature story, Eliza meets a host of animals on the way to finding the Great Mother Redwood tree and her own mother. Eliza and her animal friends face perils and overcome it all to work together to help Eliza on her quest.

While an age level is not specified, this book is suggested for ages 8-12 by Mom's Choice Awards - which awarded it a Gold Medal in October, 2011. This books would be a great independent reading book for that age group, as well as a good read aloud for younger children. Environmental themes abound, with many great teaching opportunities!

What Others are Saying 

Eliza's Forever Trees was nominated for a Dan Poyner eBook Award in the Children's Fiction category in January, 2012.

"Eliza's Forever Trees is a compelling and powerful account, very highly recommended for any young Kindle reader. It stands out as an exceptional tale of personal and world discoveries. Add Alex Walton's vivid drawings and you have beautiful creation of hope and color." - Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review.

About the Author 

According to her website, Stephanie Tara says,

"I've always believed that magic hides in special places. As a child, people often stared at my bright red hair (which was very, very bright indeed.) Unfortunately, I'd developed a bad habit of making up rhymes about all of them - they became funny characters and I didnt have much time to think about being different. Fanciful, lyrical verses danced in my head, no one was safe!

Since then, I've come to believe that children's verse has the power to inspire a deep love of language and learning. Words tripping off the tongue in somersaults, rhymes that stick to your thoughts like taffy--that's the essence of my award-winning books."

Other books by  Stephanie Tara

I'll Follow the Moon (2011) - available in hardcover and Kindle format

Snowy White World to Save (2007) - available in hardcover and Kindle format

Gwynne, Fair & Shining (2006)- available in Kindle format

Irene Taylor received her copy of Eliza's Forever Trees as a judge in the 2012 Dan Poynter eBook Awards program. She can be reached through this website or email her.

Copyright 2012 Irene Taylor. The copyright of the review of Eliza's Forever Trees in My Book Blog: eBook Reviews is owned by Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.