Thank you . . .
To my agent Heather Holden-Brown and Sam Jackson at Ebury Publishing for your faith in me and this project.
To Katy Denny, Morwenna Loughman and everyone at Ebury.
To the editor Jo Godfrey Wood and designer Peggy Sadler at Bookworx for always seeing what was needed.
To my talented friend Hannah Bennett for writing a poem that captures everything this book is about.
To three inspirational teachers/childcare professionals: Angela Bastable, Emily Foan and Sue Pankow for their early-years’ learning wisdom.
To the brilliant team of grown-ups and their little chefs who tested recipes: Claire Allen, Hannah Bennett, Leandra Bramham, Bex Carter, Kate Cole, Jackie Cruse, Lucy Dickson, Kat Gilbert, Emma Hawkins, Hannah Hill, Sarah Holgate, Rachel McConnell, Julie Morgan Webber, Kate Morris, Nathalie Paterson, Sarah Paterson, Rosalind Phillips, Lydia Pyrioxou, Sally Sharpe, Marie-Clare Simpson, Charlie Slight, Jo Spry, Emily Whitechurch, Becky Wilkinson, Karen Wood and Anne Woolmer.
To all those who cook with their children and have encouraged me further, particularly those mentioned above, plus Katie Cone, Sophie Davies, Katy Flint, Sarah Holgate, Rachel Robinson, Jo Sharp, Keely Silver, Lucy Young and those at Little Learning Seeds, Handy Herbs and the Tesco Eat Happy Project.
To all the unbelievably co-operative toddlers who had their photographs taken for this book and to Kitchen Craft and Vibrant Home, who provided some of the equipment featured for a fundraising event.
To my parents for bringing me up to believe in seizing opportunities.
To the rest of my family and close friends for their support and encouragement, especially Patricia Paterson, who made this book happen.
To my own little chefs for their enthusiasm and being my inspiration.
And finally to John for being my harshest critic and greatest champion – I could, and would, never have done any of this without you.