This series explores how readers can transform their passion for cooking into a fulfilling profession. Each book delves into the historical background, methodologies, safety standards, daily working conditions, lifestyles, and common practices within different aspects of culinary-related career paths. Many career avenues are explored through various aspects of the food industry, including bread baking, catering for different audiences, cultural considerations of cooking, farm-to-table service models, fast food service, frosting and icing, and pastry creations. Easy, beginner-level (read: foolproof) recipes facilitate the acquisition of fundamental skills and will help readers get excited about experimenting with different cooking methods on their own. There is so much to love about this series, including its scrappy do-it-yourself ethos and promotion of entrepreneurship and experimentation, prompting readers to embark on their own cooking adventures. Each publication concludes by delving into various vocational avenues associated with the subject at hand, giving readers a realistic glimpse into the lives of chefs, caterers, fast food workers, farmers, bakers, and more. These books support Common Core standards and are correlated with state-specific benchmarks. VERDICT A great choice for any middle school or public library collection.

After a short history of breadmaking,Borgert-Spaniol introduces common ingredients, cooking tools, terminology, andtechniques. The four pages on kneadingdough provide helpful photos of the processalong with verbal instructions and additionaltips for kneading sticky doughs such as brioche. One lengthy section offers a series ofbread recipes including steps that are individually illustrated with small photos, theirrecipes are particularly appealing and useful. With a racially balanced representationof young women and men at home and incommercial kitchens, the photos through-out the book create an inviting introductionto baking for young cooking enthusiasts.Borgert-Spaniol concludes with a section ofbasic information and practical advice for kidsconsidering a culinary career. An inviting, encouraging book from the Kitchen to Careerseries (6 titles).