Rating: 
Summary: Simple and Healthy
Review: Being a new mom I didn't know a lot about feeding a baby. I, of course, started with jarred baby food because I didn't know any different and I thought that these women who made their own baby food were a little overzealous in giving their baby's "only the best". I thought it was a great waste of time since everything I'd read said that the jarred stuff was perfectly fine. Then I had a friend send me this book and everything changed. I didn't even open the book until my baby was 8 months old (right around the time I started getting really bored with the jarred baby selection) and now I regret that move. I discovered how easy these 6-9 month recipes were to make and it opened a whole new world of foods for myself and my baby. My baby had no problem adjusting to the new textures that went from strained jarred food to mashed/pureed homemade food. The recipes are great mixtures of fresh ingredients that jarred companies would never dream of putting together. My baby especially liked the avocado/banana puree. I was still a little skeptical about some of the foods that were introduced in the 6-9 month section until I went to my pediatrician at my baby's 9-month check-up. I asked the doctor what kinds of food I should be feeding my baby and he gave me a list of books that I should get to help ease my confusion. Wouldn't you believe that of the 15 books recommended one happened to be "The Complete Baby, Toddler, & Child Cookbook:A Parents Guide To Healthy, Tempting Foods for Babies, Toddlers and Young Children" by Annabel Karmel. I would highly recommend this book and am extremely grateful to my friend for introducing it. My baby likes almost everything I've made and I am no longer bored with my selections. All you need is a steamer and a blender and you're on your way! I am now moving on to the 9-12 month section and am really excited about the new recipes. Can't wait to get through the rest of this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Are you sick of PB&J? Are you ready to actually cook?
Review: If you are looking to move beyond the usual middle American repertoire of macaroni & cheese, fish sticks & fries, chicken nuggets, etc. then I think you will be very pleased with this book. I am a mother of two toddlers (ages 14 mos and 3 yrs) and I am sick to death of prepackaged foods. I checked this book out from the library before deciding to buy it because of the mixed reviews. It is very presentation-heavy, but that's what makes it fun to look at and gets you inspired. I wouldn't really make mini pizzas with vegetable toppings cut out to look like animal faces, but I would still use the same ingredients to top my pizzas. Just because the author makes her homemade chicken nuggets in star shapes doesn't mean you HAVE to do that too! But it's a good trick if you have a really reluctant or picky eater. Many of the recipes use "exotic" ingredients, like parsnips, shallots, etc. (OK, you foodies, stop snickering.) They are exotic to most mothers of babies and toddlers who can't remember the last time they ate something you wouldn't find in a school cafeteria. But part of the appeal of this book is branching out into new foods, almost all of which are available at your local Safeway. Another reviewer complained that some of the food choices were unsafe (choking or allergy hazards), but obviously you have to use your common sense and listen to your doctor's advice too. I found many references in the book where the author warns against giving berries, nuts, honey, etc. too early, marked prominently in the sidebars. The meal planners for the different ages were great. Most of all this makes you think about what you are feeding your child instead of slinging out just whatever you have in the cupboard. I don't have any of this fancy equipment (mouli, food grinder, etc.) but most of that is only needed for the baby food recipes. If you have a food processor and a blender, you're probably fine. If you're ready to move beyond Gerber pureed peas or Easy Mac N Cheese, give this book a try!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your time or money
Review: My kids love variety and have always had really healthy, balanced diets, so this seemed perfect. However, I have to agree with the earlier reviews of this book, pages back. I really wanted to make this book work as I loved what she wrote about the nutrition of it, so I made more than a dozen of these recipes over a 4 week period. Therefore, I feel I gave it morer than a fair shot. I threw away more than a dozens meals. They were disgusting, time consuming (the estimated prep times are way off) and called for small amounts of several perishable ingredients. The remainder of the produce was wasted, my grocery bill went through the roof, I spent more time preparing these meals than playing with them or reading to them, and no one would even eat it. I could definitely see the value of the purees, but the recipes for a toddler and preschoolers were very disappointing. I found her information about nutrition and feeding very interesting, but I think she needs to come up with more simple, flavorful recipes.
Rating:
Summary: Clear, simple recipes are invaluable
Review: I own both this and the famous "Super Baby Food"; I refer to this book much more often. I find the color photos to be helpful in determining food consistency and the book is organized clearly and simply--by the age of the child (e.g. 4-6 months, 6-9 months, etc.)--without a lot of useless information interferring. I also like the creative ideas on which foods combine best--offering both good taste and good nutrition. I especially appreciate that it includes foods for children younger than 6 months--my 16-pound 4-month old obviously didn't read the books that said he wasn't ready for food!! Thanks to Annabel Karmel's tasty recipes, my baby screeches in anger when the bowl is empty.
Rating:
Summary: The only cookbook you'll ever need!
Review: As a new mother of twins I wanted to give me children the best food that I could. I am not a great cook, nor do I have a lot of spare time to be playing in the kitchen. This book was just the kitchen companion I needed. Karmel sections the book by age appropriate meals with a wonderful introduction to each that highlights new foods to be introducing to baby and great cooking and feeding tips.
The meals are so tasty that my husband and I often make a dish for ourselves. The twins just love them all! The recipes are clear, easy to follow and do not require a great deal of time. Karmel even includes freezing and storing tips so we can make a large portion and freeze it individual servings.
Our twins are now 2 and half and everyone we meet comments on what great healthy eaters they are - lots of veggies & fruits! We know that it is all due to the wonderful dishes Karmel's book helped us create!
Rating:
Summary: Wide variety of recipes
Review: I definitely have enjoyed this cookbook. I have a 5 month old and he seems to have enjoyed the recipes as well. A small food mill is a nice thing to have (usually you can find for less than $20) because you can grind dried apricots and make mashed potatoes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking or would like to expand you little one's horizons. I usually make 2-3 recipes at a time and then freeze them- it's convenient because you can use a lot of the items you buy on a regular basis and makes efficient use of my time. Cheaper and healthier than buying jarred food!
Rating:
Summary: Are you sick of PB&J? Are you ready to actually cook?
Review: If you are looking to move beyond the usual middle American repertoire of macaroni & cheese, fish sticks & fries, chicken nuggets, etc. then I think you will be very pleased with this book. I am a mother of two toddlers (ages 14 mos and 3 yrs) and I am sick to death of prepackaged foods. I checked this book out from the library before deciding to buy it because of the mixed reviews. It is very presentation-heavy, but that's what makes it fun to look at and gets you inspired. I wouldn't really make mini pizzas with vegetable toppings cut out to look like animal faces, but I would still use the same ingredients to top my pizzas. Just because the author makes her homemade chicken nuggets in star shapes doesn't mean you HAVE to do that too! But it's a good trick if you have a really reluctant or picky eater. Many of the recipes use "exotic" ingredients, like parsnips, shallots, etc. (OK, you foodies, stop snickering.) They are exotic to most mothers of babies and toddlers who can't remember the last time they ate something you wouldn't find in a school cafeteria. But part of the appeal of this book is branching out into new foods, almost all of which are available at your local Safeway. Another reviewer complained that some of the food choices were unsafe (choking or allergy hazards), but obviously you have to use your common sense and listen to your doctor's advice too. I found many references in the book where the author warns against giving berries, nuts, honey, etc. too early, marked prominently in the sidebars. The meal planners for the different ages were great. Most of all this makes you think about what you are feeding your child instead of slinging out just whatever you have in the cupboard. I don't have any of this fancy equipment (mouli, food grinder, etc.) but most of that is only needed for the baby food recipes. If you have a food processor and a blender, you're probably fine. If you're ready to move beyond Gerber pureed peas or Easy Mac N Cheese, give this book a try!
Rating:
Summary: Great Reference
Review: Okay, if you want a cookbook that tells you what you already know, what's the point? Yes, it's creative, yes there are unique choices, but that's what many people, who like to cook, are looking for in a cookbook. Yes, the pictures are remarkable, but would you prefer any less? Some of the "fancy" dishes, shapes, etc. are in a section for entertaining. Jello sailboats, for example, are not presented as weekday snack selections. Anyway, what a fun idea to spend a rainy day in the kitchen making something other than Tollhouse. Don't be put off by bad reviews. This book is a great reference, great starter to get one thinking about new combinations, ingredients, and textures. No, it doesn't take the place of pediatricians' suggestions or even a general child wellness text a la "What to Expect in the First Year," but it is a good book to have in your collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Some Good Ideas, But Not Enough Allergy Information
Review: I received the previous version of this book. It is indeed beautiful to look at and easy to use. However, the author suggests lots of recipes for young babies, which contain foods that should be avoided if your family has a history of allergies, like fish and tropical fruits. Our daughter broke out in hives after eating one of her fish recipes recommended for babies under 12 months. We later found out that many doctors recommend avoiding fish until well after 12 months (sometimes not until 2) because it can be highly allergenic in babies. I know it is not the author's fault that our daughter is allergic to fish, especially since our family has food allergies. But I believe a baby cookbook should include warnings and information about which foods might cause allergic reactions - especially those with higher risks. Our daughter is also allergic to mango (another fruit high on the 'avoid for allergy kids' list), and Karmel recommends introducing tropical fruits at a very young age. If your family has a history of allergies, be wary of these baby cookbooks and do not trust that the ingredients are safe.
Rating:
Summary: VERY HELPFUL and LOTS of GREAT IDEAS to get you started!
Review: I found this book very helpful when my son was just starting to eat solids. She has some great recipes that he loves and most of the ingredients/directions are very easy to follow. Some of the combinations are very unique, but I feel very good that they are healthy food combinations and my son still loves the taste! He is now 11 months old and I am still using many of the recipes I've used since he was just starting to eat solids. Some suggestions might be a little unconventional, but I found this book to be full of great ideas to get me started or that I could alter to suit my needs (whether it's changing an ingredient or two, or lengthening/shortening a cooking time to get the desired texture). I can go to the store and know exactly what ingredients I need to make several different meals for him. I am not really the avid "cook", though I own very many cookbooks that I may use a few recipes out of from time to time - I have never used another cookbook as thoroughly or as often as I use this one!
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