Oh La La! Kids Cook French focuses on making french dishes attainable for children to make.

The Sections are
The Basics: Herbs and Sauces
Appetizers
Soups
Main Courses
Salads and Vinaigrettes
Breads
Pastries and Desserts
Drinks

Each recipe has difficulty level, servings, ingredients, and directions. Plus a photo to accompany each recipe.
These recipes are perfect for beginners with the simple instructions. I will say the type of recipes greatly influences if kids can make it as many use some form of heat. Supervision would greatly be needed.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great cookbook. Very easy-to-follow recipes. I can't wait to try these recipes. I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

"From delectable patisserie to savory soups, and from baguettes to the five French mother sauces—béchamel, hollandaise, velouté, espagnole, and tomato—Ooh La La! Kids Cook French is a child-friendly take on classic French cooking. Developed by bestselling children’s cookbook author Barbara Beery and filled with simple instructions and full-color photos, this cookbook is the perfect gift for kids who feel at home in the kitchen."

This is a great cookbook for kids (and me) who want to expand their cooking skills and try some traditional French recipes. There's recipes on herbs, mother sauces, baking, and cooking that are well laid out and easy for chefs of all levels to work with. Lots of full colour photos and detailed instructions makes this a great book for chefs young and old(er)!

I received a free ebook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. Even though this book is for kids, I think anyone would enjoy creating recipes from this book. The photos were great as well. It’s been a bit since I’ve made macarons and will definitely be making some soon along with several other recipes!

Ooh La La! Kids Cook French by bestselling children’s cookbook author Barbara Beery is a delightful and sophisticated introduction to French cuisine that transcends its “children’s cookbook” label. Aimed at grades 5 to 9 (ages 10 to 14), this book is a treasure for young chefs and adults alike, offering a vibrant, extremely doable, and beautifully presented collection of classic French recipes. With its full-color photographs and clear instructions, it’s a perfect blend of education and inspiration for anyone eager to explore the art of French cooking.

While marketed for children, it’s far from childish. The book’s sleek presentation and carefully thought out selection of recipes make it a standout among cookbooks for the young. From the five French mother sauces—béchamel, hollandaise, velouté, espagnole, and tomato—to toothsome savory dishes like chicken cordon bleu and quiche Lorraine, to sweet treats like macarons and crêpes, the recipes are both authentic and approachable. Each dish is presented with its name in both English and French, adding a touch of cultural flair that immerses readers in the French culinary experience without overwhelming them.

Instructions are concise and kid-friendly, never talking down to the reader, which makes the book perfect for budding cooks. The focus on herbs, spices, and foundational sauces is particularly noteworthy, equipping readers with skills that even seasoned chefs value. Whether you’re whipping up a sparkling pink lemonade, French onion soup, or a batch of fresh baguettes, the recipes are designed to be achievable yet impressive.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its stunning photography. Each recipe is accompanied by drool-worthy, full-color images that make you want to dive into the kitchen immediately. The visuals not only inspire but also guide young cooks (and older ones as well) by showing what the finished dish should look like. The range of recipes is impressive, covering savory soups, hearty mains, breads, and pastries.

I tested two recipes from the book—French carrot soup and tomato soup—and both were outstanding. The instructions were straightforward, and the results were rich, flavorful, and true to their French roots. These dishes alone convinced me of the book’s value, as they delivered restaurant-quality taste with minimal effort. The inclusion of recipes like French potato salad and mushroom crepes further showcases the book’s versatility, offering something for every palate and occasion.

Ooh La La! Kids Cook French is more than just a cookbook; it’s a gateway to a lifelong love of cooking. Its universal appeal makes it an ideal gift for young chefs, families, or anyone who appreciates French cuisine. It’s also a fantastic hostess gift, especially for households with children, as it encourages shared cooking experiences.

Many thanks to NetGalley, author Barbara Beery, and Familius Publishers providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Remember the old Irish Spring commercial—"Manly yes, but I like it too"? Well, that is how I felt through this entire book . . . For kids, yes, but I like it too. This book is beautiful. Not too text heavy. It is definitely for young people who have some cooking experience and want to level up. I have worked with many students at Young Chef's Academy and many students in my elementary school who would grab this in a heartbeat. It is well thought out and beautifully photographed.

I appreciate NetGalley and Familius for letting me get a sneak peek and I can't wait to get my hands on a hard copy.

This cookbook has authentic French dishes with gorgeous photos of each one, but keep in mind that they tend to be for advanced cooks. Many adults would be intimidated by these recipes, which often involve many steps and good talents in the kitchen. Kids are expected to make seriously difficult dishes like croissants, macarons, aiolis, creme brulee (yes, they take a torch to it at the end), soufflés and chicken Cordon Bleu. They are also expected to do things like debeard fresh mussels.

The author apparently runs a cooking school for children, but this doesn’t feel very child friendly. Many of the dishes don’t seem well suited for their tastes if they haven’t grown up on them (such as mustard vinaigrette or the aforementioned mussels). The font used for the ingredients is a decorative sort of handwritten script that looks fancy but is harder to read (and might be especially frustrating for dyslexic kids or newer readers). Each dish has its French name but no pronunciation guide. The photos show phenomenal decoration, food styling and technique, which may set a frustrating bar. Ingredients tend to be expensive.

No nutritional information is provided, and the recipes are not well suited for kids with dietary restrictions like wheat or dairy allergies. There are a fair number of dishes suitable for vegetarian families.

I think this will be well received by parents who really want to have bragging rights about their kids and who appreciate French cuisine. It also would make a good cookbook for adults who want to learn French cooking— but keep in mind that the recipes tend to be time consuming and it is not explained any better just because it’s for children. You are expected to know how to julienne your lemon peels for your lemonade syrup and take a kitchen torch to your crème brûlée. If you’re not familiar with French cooking, there’s a reason not many of us regularly make croissants, for instance.

That said, these are classic, generally decadent French recipes. Recommended for older or seriously precocious kids with a sincere, serious interest in learning to cook French cuisine.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book via netgalley.

I love cookbooks of all kinds.

I went through and read every single page and I have some insights.

If this is a cookbook for kids - there really need to be better directions and step by step pictures. Even as an adult the cookbook as is would be hard to execute unless you have good it then experience.

I am really excited about a lot of the recipes in this book. I plan to cook croque madame muffins first. I let my 10 year old view and he really wants to make the Madeline’s.

Another suggestion is to call out for what is needed tool wise for each recipe so you don’t have to read through and figure out you don’t have what you need.


Maybe gear to the expressed kid chef vs just kids as I don’t think super kid friendly at this time.

Ooh La La this book isn’t just for kids. Although the publisher has listed this a a children's cookbook there is nothing childish about it’s lovely slick presentation of classic French style recipes. From basic sauces and vinaigrettes to delicious chicken cordon bleu to easy sweet pastries.. Everyone will find something to add to their culinary skills here.

This one is the perfect introduction to French cooking for any young chef in the family. I would say though, it is likely best for ages 10 and up. There are lots of really easy (and tasty) recipes in here. I especially like that they break down French cooking techniques and focus on herbs and spices - something that even the most seasoned chef (pun intended) must know. A great gift for any kid (or big kid) that loves to cook.

A detailed, but kid friendly and gorgeously photographed children’s recipe/cookery book. My brother was a red seal chef but passed away before any of my children were born. Reading this book was like having a piece of him back again. 🥰 And gives me the opportunity to share his love of food and cooking with his nieces and nephews. I adored this little book that had a fantastic range of recipes.