Preschoolers (3-4-year-old): Melissa & Doug
Chef Role-Play Costume ($23.85 on Amazon)
Preschoolers are all about pretend play, so let their imaginations run into the kitchen! This chef costume, complete with kitchen accessories, is perfect for make believe cooking or restaurateuring. Plus, the coat is machine washable – in case a budding Julia Child would like to wear it for actual cooking!
Little Kids (5-9-year-old): Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes by Mollie Katzen ($11.23 on Amazon)
This cookbook is beyond cool. Mollie Katzen, author of the world-famous Moosewood Cookbook, collaborated with educator Ann Henderson to create a cookbook that introduces kids to wholesome, delicious home cooked food. Simple written and pictorial instructions ensure that elementary school kids can fully participate in the cooking process.