By Tim A. Rutherford
Coastal Parent

Colorful design and easy-reading stories enhance "The Magical Melting Pot," a cookbook that introduces kids to international food and culture.

The recipes are the products of interviews with 36 of the nation's leading chefs and span the ethnic gamut of the globe. These are delicious recipes too, not dumbed-down-canned-biscuit-dough recipes that lots of kids' cookbooks bring to the table.

Author Michelle Greenwald takes kids and parents on amazing journeys with "The Magical Melting Pot." The paths are lined with great flavors, a snippet of geography and an introduction to foreign languages that are handy beyond the kitchen.

That alone is reason enough to add the book to your family shelf - but wait, there more!

"Initially, I thought learning about the cultures would be wonderful," Greenwald said in a telephone interview. "But then discovering the life stories (of the chefs) was amazing."

These revealing little vignettes are both entertaining and inspiring. Each chef shares his or her story - and many credit food experiences as children for setting them on their career paths.

For others, the route to culinary notoriety came only after struggle or overcoming tremendous obstacles.

"Marion Cunningham was very inspirational to me," Greenwald recalled. Cunningham was in her 40s and an avid home cook and occasional cooking teacher - but had never ventured outside of California or traveled by airplane.

Finally, she did take a chance, flying to Washington to study with James Beard. The meeting was life-changing - it was Beard who recommended Cunningham to revise the "The Fannie Farmer Cookbook." Some 2,000 recipes were retested by Cunningham, who then went on to pen seven other cookbooks and claim her rightful status as one of the nation's leading food writers.

These easy to read stories are just right for kids - and adults should find them interesting as well. As for the recipes, Greenwald herself says they have universal appeal.

"I could be very happy cooking from this cookbook for a year," Greenwald said. But perhaps the best endorsement came from her brussel sprouts-hating daughter.

"My family has loved it," Greenwald said. "My daughter thought she hated brussel sprouts - but found she likes them with this recipe."

A life-long love affair with food and a lengthy career in marketing in advertising have served Greenwald well.

"Magical Melting Pot" brings together savvy packaging and presentation into a book that is fun and educational, good all around reading and an extraordinarily unique blend of kid-friendly cultural anthropology and inspiration.