Cook-A-Doodle-Doo!, written by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel and illustrated by Janet Stevens, is a charming picture book about a hen who decides to make a strawberry shortcake. She finds the recipe and some of her animal friends try to help. The only problem is…her friends know nothing about cooking. They try to bring her a flower instead of baking flour. Iguana tries to measure the flour with a ruler and Turtle tries to beat the eggs with a bat. Hen explains everything the animals need to know and the shortcake turns out beautifully. Hen teaches about measuring properly with the right tools and following directions.
The side notes on several pages show measuring equivalents such as 1 stick butter=1 cup=8 tablespoons. It explains the use of dry measuring cups versus liquid measuring cups and other cooking terms. The recipe is written on the last page for readers to try at home.
Curriculum Connections
This book can be used to introduce students to proper measuring techniques and tools. It also shows the importance of following directions or working in sequence. This book is funny and can be enjoyed by any elementary student. Teachers can use the book before going over the rules or directions for a science experiment. Students can practice measuring the ingredients like the animals did or even try the whole recipe. This book would also be useful in math while teaching fractions and measurement conversions. Teachers can use this book as an introduction to any of the elementary scientific investigation, reasoning, and logic skills.
Additional Resources
For more ideas on teaching processing skills, read the first edition of Science in School.
For ways to encourage the teaching of science processing skills at home, try this handbook written for parents.
Use recipes for a valuable math lesson.
See the Susan Stevens Crummel website for more ways to use this book in the classroom.
General Information
Book: Cook-Doodle-Do!
Author: Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
Illustrator: Janet Stevens
Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company
Publication Date: 1999
Pages: 46
Grade Range: K-5
ISBN: 0-15-201924-3