Watch your back, Jacques Pepin

My kids have grown up knowing how important food is to me, so it's not surprising that they are both fascinated by the kitchen. Children's cookbooks are a frequent gift at birthday and holiday time, but I'm usually very disappointed in how so many of them dumb down of food for kids.

We have cookbooks that are written in comic book format. We have cookbooks that feature only meals that look like something else (octopus-shaped hotdogs anyone?). We have cookbooks with dishes that have names so cutesy I feel like hurling. That's why I was so pleased to find Ready, Steady, Spaghetti.

Written by Australian food stylist Lucy Broadhurst, this kids' cookbook doesn't dumb down a thing. There are tons of vegetables in their true format -- not hidden in something else -- and all of the dishes are called by their proper names.

My daughter loved the gorgeous food photos (the author's food styling skills are very much apparent) and quickly made a list of the dishes she wants to try cooking. On that list? Pork and Chive Dumplings, Spaghetti Bolognese and Stir Fry Chinese Vegetables. This is going to be one tasty week. -Danielle

Ready, Steady, Spaghetti is available at Amazon.com.