Eat Their Words

"Everybody Eats Lunch," by Cricket Azima (Glitterati Inc.; $16)

This lunchbox-shaped book aimed at children 4 to 11 explores the lunchtime cuisine eaten in five countries around the world. The book is part puzzle, part "It's a Small World" and part cookbook. (In Japan, they eat boiled pumpkin. In South Africa, bunny chow is a lunch treat.) Although this is far from a ringing endorsement, we enjoyed this book much more than we did "Everybody Poops."

"Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run," by Alton Brown (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $27.50)

Food Network star Alton Brown is just about the coolest cat around. He's funny. He's informative. He rides motorcycles. Plus, his miniseries "Feasting on Asphalt" has become one of our favorite annual summertime TV indulgences. Last summer's series featured Brown and his crew following the Mississippi River north from the Gulf of Mexico to Minnesota. This book offers a chronicle of that trip, complete with great photos, anecdotes and tasty recipes.

"Screen Doors and Sweet Tea: Recipes and Tales From a Southern Cook," by Martha Hall Foose (Potter, $32.50)

Born in the Mississippi Delta, trained to cook in France and now a baker back home, Foose brings her familiarity with Southern cooking to the pages in this beautiful cookbook. Can't decide which to try first, the greens and corn bread croutons or the succotash-filled tomatoes. Duck and sausage gumbo looked mighty delicious, too.

"Yum-O! The Family Cookbook," by Rachael Ray (Clarkson Potter, $22.50)

With the cooking shows, the talk show and the magazine, when does this woman have the time to do another cookbook? Nevermind. This one offers what she describes as family-friendly meals (Aren't they all?) that are easy to make and good alternatives to fast food. Plus, proceeds from the book benefit her Yum-O! Organization, which tries to help families "develop healthy relationships with food and cooking."

Jeff Houck