May 1, 2024
Gr 2-6-Based on the enduringly popular video game Minecraft, this is a cookbook with a bit of a different format. Chapters are based on various Minecraft biomes (regions), such as rivers, jungles, and mountains and roughly translate into appetizers, sides, mains, drinks, and desserts. There is a heavy environmental emphasis throughout: chapters begin with a few pages about different regions on Earth and the ecological threats that loom over them. Readers are encouraged to be stewards of the planet and are offered concrete suggestions to further that goal. As the book points out, here on Earth we can't generate a new world the way that one can in the Minecraft universe. The recipes are generally healthy and made with easy-to-find ingredients that won't break the bank. Directions are simple and easy to understand, with short sidebars supplying further information about the ingredients and techniques. Full-page color photos are interspersed with scenes from the game, and a character introduced as "the Gourmand" serves as a guide. Fans, eternally in search of more, will enjoy this offering. VERDICT Recommended for school and public libraries with a persistent Minecraft following.-Kate Newcombe
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