Emeril's There's a chef in my soup:  recipes for the kid in everyone by Emeril Lagasse

These "recipes for the kid in everyone" are great!  While broken down into basic steps for beginning cooks, these are not "how to make a peanut butter sandwich" recipes.  The book illustrations are bright and cheery, and each entry has an introduction in which Emeril talks to the young reader, not down to them.  In his book introduction, he shares his fond kitchen memories with his mother, and it made me realize it's time I stop sending the kids out to play while I make dinner and instead involve them, teach them, spend time with them, and create a whole new style of memories for them.  While this book is geared for young cooks and their adult counterparts (heating and cutting are marked for adult help in each recipe), I'm learning a lot since I've never been much of a chef.  So I could see giving this book to a student headed for college or other beginning cook--regardless of their age.  One of the best parts is when Emeril lists the basics of cooking, my favorite being "Be Clean!"  Meals are more enjoyable when we clean as we go, as he suggests, rather than wait until after dinner and head into a mountain of dirty dishes and counters.  Great book!  --Julie