5 Foodie Books for Kids of All Ages

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my obsession with cooking shows, it’s that most of the greats got started young. And if there’s one thing I learned from attempting to cook chicken in a toaster oven in college, it’s that I wish I had, too. To that end, here are some books (listed in order from youngest readers to oldest) to help get your and the kids in your life on the path to culinary greatness:

Jamberry, by Bruce Degen
Okay, “foodie” might be a stretch when talking about this classic board book, but when I was a little kid, I went nuts for the bright, gorgeous pictures of berries everywhere, and the fun rhymes that went with them. Thinking back on it, this is the book I associate with first making me see the beauty of food. And though I’ve yet to make my own jam, if ever I were going to, this would be my visual guide.

Cupcake Cousins, by Kate Hannigan
Willow and Delia are 9-year-old cousins who share a passion for cooking and an unfortunate tendency to get into trouble while doing it. In this adorable (and at times emotional—it’s possible I shed a tear or two) story, the two are trying to get their aunt to see them not as the flower girls they’ve been deemed but the potential chefs they are. I love the wonderfully illustrated book’s emphasis on learning to find your own special skills and passions, while maintaining the realistic point that a large part of doing that, particularly as a kid, is needing other people to see it in you, too. Plus, kid-friendly recipes. I am a fiend for books with recipes.

All Four Stars, by Tara Dairman
I fell in love with this book on premise alone—11-year-old foodie Gladys Gatsby schemes her way into becoming a professional restaurant critic—but the execution made it one of my favorite middle-grade reads of the year. There’s no talking down to the intended younger audience when it comes to the culinary aspects here; no matter how old you are, be prepared to drool at the delicious and varied food descriptions throughout.

Taste Test, by Kelly Fiore
Speaking of falling in love with books on premise alone, how could any self-respecting fan of Top Chef not jump for a contemporary YA novel about a girl with major barbecue skills entering a cooking competition? Rife with romance, sabotage, and recipes, this is a top pick for aspiring teen chefs.

Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff That Made Me Famous, by Kathryn Williams
Raised on Italian-Greek food in the kitchen of her family restaurant, Sophie’s already on a culinary path. But then the opportunity to compete for a reality show with a scholarship prize falls into her lap, and she finds herself both on set and in an adorable romance she never saw coming…especially since her affections have been otherwise occupied by her best friend back home. Though both this book and Taste Test have reality show settings, this competition has more of a culinary-school bent. Most importantly, though—you guessed it!—more recipes.

What’s your favorite foodie read?