The holidays are the perfect excuse to carve out a little extra time for cooking with your kids. Here are some recent cookbooks for easy inspiration.

¢ “Kids in the Holiday Kitchen” by Jessica Strand and Tammy Massman-Johnson (Chronicle Books, 2008) This is a mix of easy holiday crafts and edibles, including tomato soup with snowman-shaped grilled cheese sandwiches, reindeer bark (chocolate and almond bark) and holiday-themed soaps (Santa’s Suds).

¢ “Jewish Holidays Cookbook” by Jill Colella Bloomfield (DK Publishing, 2008). This fun book covers the gamut of Jewish holidays, offering easy recipes kids will enjoy making and eating, including mandel bread (similar to biscotti), baked stuffed apples, even jam doughnuts.

¢ “Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook” by Paula Deen (Simon & Schuster, 2008). Charming illustrations walk children through easy recipes such as monkey bread, pancakes, various stews, sloppy joes and beef kebabs.