In his newest cookbook, "There's A Chef In My Soup!," Chef Emeril Lagasse turns his attention to his young fans. Over 75 recipes are designed for children to make either on their own or with minimal adult assistance.

Emeril begins with basic cooking instructions and safety precautions. Simple colored drawings identify various utensils and cooking equipment used throughout the book. The glossary further explains cooking techniques such as folding, creaming, and kneading in simple, concise terms.

The recipes include many kid favorites such as spaghetti, pancakes, and cookies. But remember, this is Emeril, so they are all "kicked up a notch," and not necessarily spice-wise. Most of the recipes include a fair number of ingredients to delight the taste buds, but the step-by-step instructions are fairly simple and easy to follow. Each recipe includes a listing of necessary tools to assemble before beginning. Interesting tips and food factoids are generously sprinkled throughout the book.

Emeril also offers a toned down version of his famous spicy Essence seasoning mixture to suit the tender palates of children. He calls it "Baby Bam," and it passed the test with my picky 13-year-old when she tested Emeril's "Some Real Good Chili" recipe.

School-age children will enjoy these recipes just as much as parents. Invite your kids into the kitchen to kick it up a notch, Emeril-style.