BROCKELBANK, Nicholas Nic’s Lunchbox Scholastic, 2013 32pp NZ$19.50 pbk ISBN 9781775431909 SCIS 1632664
Here is an inspirational cookbook showing that anyone can make a difference in other people’s lives. Nic, who suffers from Muscular Dystrophy, has now published his second cookbook supported by the publisher Scholastic (NZ) Ltd who, with Nic, are donating 50% of the royalties to the MD Association. He is a lad with Attitude (a favourite TVNZ One show on Sunday mornings that gives voice to people who have overcome difficulties and achieved great personal goals). Lunchboxes for many children can be pretty boring and so Nic has demonstrated here that, with flare and persistence, lunches at school can be really tasty. His favourite is Sushi sandwiches but with savouries, pizzas, snacks, biscuits (even cheese biscuits) and sweets, there are many recipes to choose from. A creative parent here can not only use the book to encourage culinary adventures, but also can use the book to encourage other children to have Attitude. One proviso that I would suggest is that the budgets and the cost of lunchbox recipes have not been articulated here: it might be wise for teachers to assess each recipe in these terms and even develop a communal ‘bank’ of goodies needed to collectively create exciting lunches. Recommended. JMcK
