How lucky in 2020 to be a pupil in group 7 or 8 at an Amsterdam primary school with a school garden. The City of Amsterdam stuck its neck out and facilitated this publication, made by the children’s books dream team and a passionate chef. The result is a magnificent book for looking, doing, reading and cooking in one – not at all condescending and with a loving eye for both content and production. Not only were all the stops pulled out in terms of the personnel employed on this book, it is also a treat containing surprises in production techniques not normally within reach of a children’s book.
The designer has placed all the clear illustrations and elements with an all-but-invisible hand. The Wibalin band material gives an air of distinction; the colour palette used for printing is unique, eliminating any sense of the standard CMYK. The icing on the cake is then the extra sheet pass in fluorescent green, which also continues around the edges of the block.
If this is not a blatant promotion of books for young people, it is at the very least a wonderful gesture. A real gift – one which those who do not attend an Amsterdam primary school can also enjoy to the full, thanks to a very modestly priced edition for general sale.