The Fabulous Fannie Farmer

Kitchen Scientist and America’s Cook

Illustrated by Susan Reagan
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Hardcover
$18.99 US
On sale Jan 30, 2024 | 40 Pages | 9781635926125

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ALSC Notable Children's Book
CCBC Choices 2025
A NSTA-CBC Best STEM Book
2025 Texas Topaz List
2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Title

Fannie Farmer, America’s most famous cooking teacher, discovers that precise measurements are a recipe for cooking success in this STEAM picture book that includes two of her classic recipes.

School Library Journal, starred review
Youth Services Book Review, starred review


When Fannie Farmer learned to cook in the late 1800s, recipes could be pretty silly. They might call for “a goodly amount of salt” or “a lump of butter” or “a suspicion of nutmeg.” Girls were supposed to use their “feminine instincts” in the kitchen (or maybe just guess). Despite this problem, Fannie loved cooking, so when polio prevented her from going to college, she became a teacher at the Boston Cooking School. Unlike her mother or earlier cookbook writers, Fannie didn’t believe in feminine instincts. To her, cooking was a science. She’d noticed that precise measurements and specific instructions ensured that cakes rose instead of flopped and doughnuts fried instead of burned. Students liked Fannie’s approach so much that she wrote a cookbook. Despite skepticism from publishers, Fannie’s book was a recipe for success.

Written with humor and brought to life with charming illustrations, this book explores the origins of Fannie Farmer’s quintessentially American cookbook. A cookbook that was beloved because it allowed anyone to make tasty things, with no guessing, no luck—and certainly no feminine instincts—required.
Emma Bland Smith is a children's librarian and writer. Her first picture book, Journey, won Bank Street College's Cook Prize and Northland College's SONWA award. View titles by Emma Bland Smith
Susan Reagan earned her degree from the Columbus College of Art and Design. With previous experience in greeting cards, surface designs, and picture books, Susan's titles include YOU AND ME and LIGHTS OUT! She lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Visit susanreaganart.com View titles by Susan Reagan

Introducing... THE FABULOUS FANNIE FARMER!

About

ALSC Notable Children's Book
CCBC Choices 2025
A NSTA-CBC Best STEM Book
2025 Texas Topaz List
2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Title

Fannie Farmer, America’s most famous cooking teacher, discovers that precise measurements are a recipe for cooking success in this STEAM picture book that includes two of her classic recipes.

School Library Journal, starred review
Youth Services Book Review, starred review


When Fannie Farmer learned to cook in the late 1800s, recipes could be pretty silly. They might call for “a goodly amount of salt” or “a lump of butter” or “a suspicion of nutmeg.” Girls were supposed to use their “feminine instincts” in the kitchen (or maybe just guess). Despite this problem, Fannie loved cooking, so when polio prevented her from going to college, she became a teacher at the Boston Cooking School. Unlike her mother or earlier cookbook writers, Fannie didn’t believe in feminine instincts. To her, cooking was a science. She’d noticed that precise measurements and specific instructions ensured that cakes rose instead of flopped and doughnuts fried instead of burned. Students liked Fannie’s approach so much that she wrote a cookbook. Despite skepticism from publishers, Fannie’s book was a recipe for success.

Written with humor and brought to life with charming illustrations, this book explores the origins of Fannie Farmer’s quintessentially American cookbook. A cookbook that was beloved because it allowed anyone to make tasty things, with no guessing, no luck—and certainly no feminine instincts—required.

Author

Emma Bland Smith is a children's librarian and writer. Her first picture book, Journey, won Bank Street College's Cook Prize and Northland College's SONWA award. View titles by Emma Bland Smith
Susan Reagan earned her degree from the Columbus College of Art and Design. With previous experience in greeting cards, surface designs, and picture books, Susan's titles include YOU AND ME and LIGHTS OUT! She lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Visit susanreaganart.com View titles by Susan Reagan

Media

Introducing... THE FABULOUS FANNIE FARMER!

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