5 Books About Kids Destined for Culinary Success

Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders (The Neil Flambé Capers Series #1), by Kevin Sylvester
Neil Flambé may only be fourteen years old, but that hasn’t stopped him from creating delectable dishes for his boutique restaurant and becoming one of the most celebrated chefs in Vancouver. What his patrons don’t realize is that Neil also has a knack for solving mysteries, and the latest one to hit the culinary scene is a real doozy: the best chefs in town are turning up dead. With only a strange smell and mysterious notes written in Italian to go on, Neil has to hurry to solve the murders before he becomes the prime suspect in this fun series starter.

The Thing About Leftovers, by C.C. Payne
Twelve-year-old Fizzy has been having a hard time since her parents’ divorce, and things don’t seem to be getting any easier now that her dad is expecting a new baby and her mom is engaged. Sometimes it seems like cooking is the only thing Fizzy can do. Luckily, Fizzy has an ally in Aunt Liz, a talented chef in her own right, who convinces Fizzy to enter the Southern Living Cook-Off. Fizzy hopes success in the cook-off will lead to success in the family—plus, sometimes it’s easier to just focus on her recipes.

All Four Stars (All Four Stars Series #1), by Tara Dairman
Eleven-year-old Glady Gatsby simply wants to cook gourmet dishes and eat delicious food, while her parents can’t even make peas right and are content with fast food. That’s why she’s kept her cooking experiments a secret. Unfortunately, her secret is discovered when she accidentally sets the curtains on fire while making a crème brulee. Banned from the kitchen, Glady finds a way to reconnect with food after a letter she wrote mistakenly finds its way to the New York Standards food editor. Unaware that the passionate letter is from a sixth grader, the food editor offers Glady a freelance restaurant reviewing assignment—but only if she can get to the restaurant and sample all the food.

The Boy Who Wanted to Cook, by Gloria Whelan, Steve Adams (Illustrator)
In this picture book, Pierre longs to cook just like his father, the owner and chef at La Bonne Vache, a small restaurant in the south of France.  But at only ten years old, his parents feel he is still much too young. When Pierre discovers an important restaurant critic will be dining at the restaurant, he knows he must do whatever he can to make the dishes extra special, including sneaking in some secret ingredients. With beautiful illustrations, the book exposes young children to French culinary culture, including French words and phrases.

Pizza Day, by Melissa Iwai
For preschoolers, this picture book walks you through the process of making a pizza step-by-step. A young boy and his father join forces to prepare the perfect pizza, first by gathering fresh ingredients from their garden. In the back, you will find a recipe for pizza that you can make with your little one. This book is a companion book to Soup Day, so don’t let the fun end with just pizza!