Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons

Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal explores a variety of emotions and themes in this cute picture-book, using the activity of baking cookies to define various complex concepts. Every word highlighted here, from proud to modest, fair to unfair, is related to how one makes, shares and/or consumes chocolate chip cookies...

Although these sorts of inspirational picture-books are not usually my cup of tea, I have to say that reading Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons was made more poignant for me by the knowledge that the author recently passed away, after writing a very moving piece about her husband in The New York Times. Leaving that aside, I can see this title coming in very handy, in exploring concepts relating to ethical behavior and emotional show more experiences with younger children. The artwork by Jane Dyer is colorful and appealing, depicting a diverse range of children, and a number of adorable animal companions. Recommended to anyone looking explicitly for children's books to use in the explorations of manners and morals. show less

"MODEST means you don't run around telling everyone you make the best cookies, even if you know it to be true." Um, WHAT? No, really, from the brilliant woman who brought us Little Pea, we now have definitions of words like "envy," "trustworthy," and "content" couched in terms we all can understand -- cookies. Reading the first couple pages, I thought, "Oh, no," but the definitions get wittier and wittier and the illustrations definitely grew on me. I am making everyone in the library read this book right now.

I think this book would be great in a kindergarten or younger classroom. It has great things for kids to be working on in a context that is accessible to most people. The sweet images of people an animals make the book entrancing.

I love all of the Rosenthal/Dyer "Cookie" books. Through the simple act of baking a batch of cookies, we learn the meaning of various abstract behavioral concepts: honest (I ate an extra cookie), patient (I can wait for them to finish baking), respect (I give Grandma a cookie before taking one for myself). These are so sweetly done, not preachy or judgmental, just matter-of-fact in tone with illustrations of children and animals showing their best behavior.

Too sweetly cute really for my taste, but I could see how this would appeal to a lot of parents and some kids. The concept of defining words using cookies as a metaphor is fun, but the pastel, country-esque illustrations, populated primarily by anthropomorphized animals and idealistically adorable little tots tip the whole book over the edge into territory I prefer not to occupy. There's no traditional narrative and the entire package feels more like a gift book for graduates rather than something actually intended for children. The most mediocre of this year's Monarch offerings so far.

I loved how the author paired a simple lesson with a cookie. Very creative and a great new way to look at cookies. To be honest the only reason I chose this book was for the cookies. So I just love how the title alone appeals to my senses in an odd way.

Clever conceit, although some of the lessons were a bit of a stretch ("optimist is someone who looks at their half-cookie and says 'wow! I have half a cookie!' and pessimist is someone who looks at their half-a-cookie and says, "grumble grumble, I only have half a cookie!'".

I liked the illustrations -- "proud" especially sticks out in my mind, for the little girl whose chin is lifted proudly and who is pleased with her cookies.