Cookbooks for kids who want to explore food from around the world

Cooking is full of things kids naturally enjoy, from measuring and mixing to tasting and making a little mess. A good children's cookbook turns that curiosity into something practical, creative, and delicious.

These two Usborne cookbooks help kids explore recipes from real families around the world. They combine simple step-by-step instructions with bold, graphic-novel-style illustrations, making cooking feel lively, visual, and full of stories.

Start with a Global Cookbook

World Kitchen is a collection of recipes contributed by families from around the world. Each recipe includes an introduction to the family who shared it, along with simple step-by-step instructions illustrated in full color by Chaaya Prabhat. Written by Abigail Wheatley, it is recommended for ages 7+.

The cookbook includes recipes ranging from U.S. chocolate chip cookies to Ugandan rolled eggs. It also shares facts about cultural traditions, cooking equipment, and ingredients. Plus, all the recipes are vegetarian, with instructions included for adapting them to be vegan, nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, or a combination of these.

That makes World Kitchen a great choice for kids who are curious about what families eat in different places. It is more than just a recipe book; it is a way to connect food with people, places, and stories.

Cook for Celebrations and Holidays

World Kitchen – Celebrations is the follow-up to World Kitchen. It focuses on recipes for celebrations and holidays, shared by real families from around the world.

The book includes food from different cultures and traditions for occasions such as Eid, Passover, national days, birthdays, and family get-togethers. For example, the U.S. edition includes Nigerian fried rice for Christmas and American sugar cookies for Halloween. The recipes are packed with eye-catching illustrations, facts about festive traditions, cooking equipment, and diverse ingredients.

This is a great choice for kids who want to understand why certain foods matter. It helps them discover that recipes can carry memories, traditions, and family stories—not just ingredients.

Which Book Should You Choose First?

If your child is interested in food from different places, start with World Kitchen. It gives kids a broad introduction to recipes shared by families from around the world.

If your child is curious about festivals, holidays, birthdays, and special meals, choose World Kitchen – Celebrations. It focuses on the foods families make when they gather, celebrate, and share special moments together.

Both books offer kids an active reading experience. They read, follow instructions, experiment, and create. And at the end, there is something real on the table—a delicious reward for their curiosity and creativity.