I’ve got a book recommendation for you today, and it’s a good one - The Café at the Edge of the Woods.

Now, you'll probably know by now - I’ve got a lot of cookbooks. My shelves are groaning under the weight of them. So when I spotted this one, with its forest café and culinary ambitions, I knew that I need it. Turns out I’m not the only one who thought so - it just won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Not that we need awards to tell us what’s good, but hey, always nice to have backup.

The story follows a chef named René (I'm wondering if pun is intended?) and his tiny green sidekick Glumfoot. Together, they set out to open a fine dining restaurant in the woods. Problem is, the locals - ogres, trolls, and other woodland regulars - are more into slime and worms than soufflés and sauces. Then again, if you’ve ever looked into what they serve at Noma, maybe the gap’s not that big…

Beneath the playful setting, this book is really about something more. It’s about craft, about taking pride in what you do. It’s also about teamwork, because no kitchen - or life - works without it. And it’s about compromise - finding a way to share your vision while still listening to what others need.

Great story, beautiful art, and the kind of read that makes you want to cook dinner and hug your kid.

What more could you want, hey?