Reviews: (by author)

Wilkes, Angela and Fiona Watts. The Usborne Internet-Linked Children’s World Cookbook. Usborne Publishers: www.usborne.com $13.95. ISBN 07945-0098-6.

A stunningly beautiful book that combines recipes and interesting factoids with some really outstanding design—photographs and illustrations laid out well, this quality soft-cover has an additional informational page for adults, mostly warnings about the Internet. The latter is necessary because the book is linked to an Usborne web site on which readers can navigate the attractive, substantial site to additional recipes, geography lessons (this is a global cookbook), gorgeous photographs, and solid information. You get a lot for your money when you buy this cookbook.

Its international content goes continent by continent, starting with the USA and recipes for brownies and cheesecake. Goodie recipes preponderate—sweet things from Australia to Austria (yes, a doable recipe for sachertorte) but this is not a criticism—just an observation. Global comfort food might be a better description of the cuisine represented by the various cultures: stews from Ireland and Africa, paella, moussaka, tacos, scones, goulash, and hummus. Each recipe presentation is double-trucked, providing lots of space for imaginative, eye-engaging layouts using background color, insets, boxes, carefully placed text in a clean font, and beautifully-photographed food. Several doubletrucks are devoted to categories of food, rather than its geography; titled e.g. “Cakes and Pastries,” “Spices,” “Mediterranean ingredients…,” and “Fruit…,” they add nicely to the substantial information provided throughout the book and allow as well for some additional superb photography and design.

This would make an excellent gift or addition to a classroom.

Highly recommended
A. Allison Fall ‘04

Back to Reviews U-Z