Cooking with Grandma by Rosemary Mastnak

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Hardie Grant Egmont, 2009. ISBN 9781921564192.
(Ages 2-6) Recommended. Following Dancing with Grandma, comes this delightful picture book featuring Anya and her grandmother. Anya goes to stay with her grandparents for a week, and she and Grandma make a different treat for each day. There are toast soldiers and boiled eggs on Monday, scones on Tuesday and a chocolate cake on Saturday. Then they set it in special places to serve to special people, culminating in a wonderful party on Sunday.
Mastnak celebrates family life with this warm hearted story. I loved Grandma. She is so modern, with her floppy hats and beads and is such a loving, happy go lucky person. Anya is a treat and Grandpa and other family members are great too.
The illustrations fit the story perfectly and bring alive the different characters and the wonderful settings for cooking and serving Anya and Grandma's cooking. The kitchen is a pleasure and the garden with its large gum tree is beautiful.
All the recipes are ones that would often be made at home and could be duplicated by a grandmother who might like to read a story and then follow through with the food.
Pat Pledger

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