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HandstandKids - Online551
about HandstandKids - Online:
Through a wide variety of recipes, the Handstand Kids Mexican Cookbook gives kids an insight into Mexican cooking and culture.
The book's presentation alone is enough to hold a child's interest. The illustrations that accompany recipes are entertaining; kids will read through the recipes just to stay engaged with the book's hosts, the Handstand Kids.
Users of the book will come away knowing not only how to cook a variety of Mexican dishes, but also learning a bit of Spanish in the process. Spanish words for each recipe and many of the ingredients are included, so before long your child will be cutting up avocate (avocado) and adding lima (lime) without realizing that they read it in Spanish, not English.
The book is designed for kids ages three and up, and with its avocado rating system (one avocado is a basic recipe that a child can do most of by himself, four avocados means that an adult needs to help with the entire recipe) it's easy to find recipes for different skill and age levels. The book offers recipe variations for those seeking vegetarian, lower-fat, or spicy alternatives, and suggests ingredient substitutions, which means they can all be tailored to suit your family's tastes.
Recipes run the gamut from appetizers to desserts. We particularly like the Mexican-ize My... chapter, which brings an international flavor to closer-to-home favorites - a grilled cheese becomes a quesadilla, a sandwich becomes a torta, chips become nachos.
Overall, we were impressed with the book's lively presentation, clear instructions, and fresh, healthy, and flavorful results. We also feel the book's message that kids can make a difference in the world is an important lesson, and encourage readers to visit the Handstand Kids website when looking for youth volunteer opportunities.