Twist It Up

January 1, 2012

Gr 4-8-At age 11, Jack Witherspoon has already chosen his career and made a name for himself in the industry. Stuck in the hospital for leukemia treatments at age six and bored with the usual offerings on TV, he came across the Food Network and a chef was born. After years of cooking, fundraising with famous chefs, and appearing on television, Jack (with a little help from his mom) put together this innovative cookbook. It is peppered throughout with photographs and personal stories, and it is hard to resist reading every page. The full-page color photographs of the dishes will have youngsters drooling and planning menus. Jack presents recipes for breakfast, lunch, school-night dinners, weekend meals, appetizers, and side dishes, and an irresistible array of sweets. This is not a cookbook for beginners, and some dishes will require adult assistance. Kids with an already adventurous palate will be delighted; picky eaters may turn up their noses, but hopefully they will be inspired by Jack's accomplishments to try at least one bite or maybe even two.-Heather Acerro, Rochester Public Library, MN

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