The 10 Best Cookbooks for Kids of 2024

We are definitely biased, but the latest kids cookbook from the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen is our top pick. Written for children ages four to eight, it will teach them basic kitchen skills (think: cracking eggs, frosting cookies and juicing citrus) — while having a whole lot of fun. There are 50 mouthwatering recipes like Ooey-Gooey Glazed Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast, Traffic-Stopping Sandwiches for lunch, Totally Twisted Pasta with Cherry Tomato Sauce for dinner and Ice Cream Cake Pops for dessert, plus cute and creative snacks that make the best after-school treats. Some of the food crafts might be tricky for the youngest cooks to nail, but they can still eat all of the toppings and decorations.The book also includes recipe tips, definitions of certain terms and helpful ingredient explainers.

Get kids excited about real, whole foods from co-author Mollie Katzen, renowned chef and author of The Moosewood Cookbook. The early champion of plant-based cuisine started writing cookbooks for kids with this 1994 release that includes delicious, nutritious food alongside whimsical watercolor characters and step-by-step drawings of each recipe (note: the book is entirely vegetarian and contains 19 recipes total). "For preschoolers, Mollie Katzen’s cookbooks are classic. They contain recipes that young kids can mostly handle themselves and a lot of the instructions/ingredients are pictured — ideal for kids who can’t read yet," says Good Housekeeping contributing editor Karen Cicero.

No plans this weekend? Not anymore. The incredible recipes in this book are a meal and an activity in one, offering devilish creations like Ursula’s Poor Unfortunate Rolls and Scar’s Lion Share Farro Salad. "The Insight Editions pop-culture-inspired cookbooks (such as My Pokémon Cookbook, the Star Wars Life Day Cookbook and Disney Villains: Devilishly Delicious Cookbook) are fun to flip through. They come up with amazing creations and the recipes we tried — like the Lady Tremaine toast from the Villains cookbook — tasted great!" says Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor Marisa LaScala. Reviewers noted that while the recipes were creative, some of the ingredients lists were too long.

While some kids may groan at prepping carrots, most would probably jump at the chance to whip up (and eat!) cakes, cookies, pies and other confections. New York Times bestselling chef and host of Ace of Cakes and Kids Baking Championship Duff Goldman is the perfect teacher for your burgeoning baker: He weaves in science lessons (about yeast, for instance) and super-fun facts alongside creative baking recipes for every occasion. Give pizza night a sugary twist with stuffed-crust dessert pizza or add eye-catching color to classic cookies, like in confetti snickerdoodles. While the book is beloved by most customers (it averages 4.8 out of 5 stars with over 1,500 reviews), some found the recipes too complicated for younger or beginner chefs.

The New York Times best seller is more than just a cookbook, it also offers bonus games (like “What’s Your Hot Dog IQ?” quiz) and food trivia for a learning and playing experience all in one. Find a wide range of recipes for every meal of the day, like Stuffed French Toast, Pepperoni Chicken Fingers, Raspberry Applesauce and more (heads up, this isn't your best option for health-focused recipes), plus coloring book pages — a great activity to keep busy while your Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins are in the oven.

Nutrition Lab Director Stefani Sassos's pick, this cookbook is made for perhaps the pickiest eater of all: your toddler. Written by a certified nutritionist and mom of two, this book offers simple, healthy and organic recipes for your little one including Chocolate Chip Oat Banana Blender Muffins and Zucchini Noodles with Slow Cooker Turkey Meatball Marinara. Sound tasty? These recipes aren't just meant for your toddler, of course, but for the whole family. Reviewers loved the recipes but wished the book had more pictures.

Cooking isn't magic, but these recipes will make you feel like it is: Transform a simple ham-and-cheese sandwich into a Potter look-a-like with cleverly placed eggplant rings or fold crepes into letters for Hedwig to carry away. "This pick has genius recipe tie-ins with the book series. We loved the colorful Hogwarts House smoothie," says Good Housekeeping contributing editor Karen Cicero. However, some reviewers wished the references were more direct and offered foods specifically featured in the series. You'll also find gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options throughout the over 40 sweet and savory snacks, desserts, drinks and meals inspired by the Wizarding World.

In addition to basic skills, young chefs will also learn handy cooking hacks and delicious recipe mashups that only the fun-fueled pros in the Delish test kitchen could come up with: Make gooey grilled cheese in a waffle iron, stuff a Cubano sandwich with hot dogs, enjoy Banana Split Oatmeal for a dessert-like breakfast and more. These recipes may not be full of veggies, but they are certainly full of flavor. The book also includes copycat recipes from family-favorite restaurants and treats inspired by pop culture characters.

This favorite from America's Test Kitchen includes recipes for every meal of the day, plus equipment and ingredient explainers with photos. "We really liked the America's Test Kitchen cookbooks when my kids were younger. They have great instructions and the recipes aren't babyish at all," says Executive Managing Editor Kim Cheney. According to the brand, these recipes were tested by more than 750 kid cooks of all skill levels ― some kids even provided testimonials and products reviews to encourage and inspire young readers. The book starts with beginner tips for becoming a kitchen pro, like learning how to read a recipe and how to stay focused in the kitchen, though this chapter included a lot of text that might be tricky for younger readers.

Originally published in 2002, this cookbook offers recipes that kids can make but the whole family will love. Think: Gooey Cinnamon Buns, Baby Bam Burgers, Ka-Bam Kabobs and more. "This was my favorite cookbook as a kid," says Associate Editor Becca Miller. "I loved the illustrations and the recipes felt interesting but entry level. At one point, I made the apple crisp at least once a week!" Some reviewers felt that the recipes weren't creative enough for children, though we love that it offers a variety of basics that can become part of your family's repertoire.