Cooking with Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon: A Cookbook for Kids [Hardcover]

Jules Bass (Author), Debbie Harter (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Herb cavorts across the pages with his zany friends, cooking up a storm. Bright, funny watercolor, crayon, and pen-and-ink illustrations set the tone for a happy time in the kitchen. It's too bad that the book's contents are so flawed. In the introduction, the author says that the 22 recipes "are mainly for those I like to call LOVE children: L=lacto O=ova V=veggie E=eaters." But the term "lacto-ova" is never defined or compared to other kinds of vegetarian diets. Weight is given in ounces and grams, and baking temperatures are given in Fahrenheit, centigrade, and "gas" settings, which will confuse many young cooks. "Herb's Chili Con `No' Carne" includes an ingredient called "textured vegetable protein (TVP)," again with no explanation or information as to where to find it. Or, how about "borlotti beans" for "Snap-Dragon's `Stone Soup?'" For a less problematic vegetarian cookbook, try Mollie Katzen's Honest Pretzels (Tricycle, 1999). For a fine, well-explained guide to beginning ovo-lacto cooking, see Maura Shaw and Sydna Byrne's Foods from Mother Earth (Shawangunk, 1994).
Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, ME
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Grand-Ma-Ma Flora, Squat, Haggis, Gorse and Meathook, help Herb the Dragon prepare such vegetarian specialties as Spaghetti Sandwiches (a frittata of pasta, eggs and cheese), Veggie Sailboats and Radical Dragon-Salsa.

Measurements and some terms may need to be "translated" from the British, although most are easily understandable (and a great way to get metrics into the conversation). Children 12 and up should be able to follow the recipes, even if some of the manipulative skills will require an adult's tutelage. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Approved winner.

Reviewed by Parents' Choice® 2000 -- From Parents' Choice®

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books; 1 edition (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184148041X
• ISBN-13: 978-1841480411
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,130,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Veggie Dragon Herb makes it easy for kids to cook., October 15, 1999

By 

Jules Bass ([e-mail]) (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking with Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon: A Cookbook for Kids (Hardcover)

As the author and recipe writer of Cooking With Herb, the firstthing I would like to say is that you don't have to be a vegetarianto have fun cooking with Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon. With a little help from his friends Rosie-Rose, Gorse and his beloved Grand-Ma-Ma-Flora, Herb demonstrates that vegetarian food can be just as delicious as meat-based dishes.

Cooking With Herb is both a cookbook and a storybook combined. Along with recipes such as Chili Con "No" Carne, Party Pasta For A Herd Of Dragons, Herb's amazing potatoes, Chocolate Banana Walnut Bread and sixteen others, it's designed for kids and their parents to have fun together. And remember, the recipes are not just for kids - they're ones I cook for myself and my friends. So, I hope that everyone will join in. Some kids will be able to prepare them by themselves while others will need some help. Each recipe comes with a story of how Herb invented it, some of his "Hot Tips" and comments from dragons in the forest who are not vegetarians; especially MeatHook, who is a confirmed meat eater but is nevertheless tempted by Herb's cooking. Artist Debbie Harter brings it all to life with her colorful, original and active illustrations.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cooking With Herb: The Vegetarian Dragon, September 15, 2000

By 

"dmkc" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking with Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon: A Cookbook for Kids (Hardcover)

My daughter (who was 5 at the time) and I saw Herb on TV Food Network about a year or so ago and she loved him. She insisted on me getting the cookbook for her (a 5 year old wanting to cook - how cool is that?). The cookbook is fun, colorful, educational, and best of all easy to understand for kids and the recipes are fantastic! She insists on cooking the recipes with me all the time - the only way I can get her to eat anything! And when it comes from Herb's cookbook, it's a guaranteed hit with her!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an entertaining book, October 31, 2001

By 

Melanie Wilson "mongoliamel" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cooking with Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon: A Cookbook for Kids (Hardcover)

Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon, has published a book of recipes for children! Cooking With Herb the Vegetarian Dragon: A Cookbook for Kids is an entertaining book containing 22 recipes that
children can make – with the help or supervision of grown-ups. This book is a nice companion to Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon.

In this book Herb serves up various, nutritious dishes including "Grand-Ma-Ma-Flora's Spaghetti Sandwich," "Herb's Chili Con 'No' Carne," "Herb's 'Those Amazing Potatoes,'" "The King's Favorite Veggie-Burger," "Herb's Radical Dragon-Salsa," "Chocolate Banana Walnut Bread" and "Herb's Simple Strawberry Slush."

Each recipe contains easy-to-follow directions and tips as well as a fun introduction about the recipe. Some safety rules are also included at the beginning of the book. While the recipes contained in this book are for vegetarians, several of the recipes contain no ingredients from animals and many other recipes could be easily modified for a vegan diet. –Reviewed by Glenn Perrett
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