Cook’s Cook: The Cook Who Cooked for Captain Cook

John Thompson has a hook in place of one hand but still works as a ship’s cook on big sailing ships. He is hired for the 1768 around-the-world voyage of Captain James Cook, and Thompson tells the story of that three-year voyage on the ship Endeavor. While they take a great many stores with them, and while pease porridge is a mainstay, Thompson has to learn to cook a wide variety of other foods that includes everything from albatross to dog and breadfruit stew, from celery grass to stingray soup and even kangaroo stew. He shares many of those recipes with readers. But he talks about much more than food. He tells the stories of expeditions gone wrong and men lost, he tells of the discoveries and naming of various places, and he tells of hardships and illnesses faced. It is a long and arduous journey, and Thompson does not survive.

Author Gavin Bishop lets his research shine as he writes this interesting story. It is illustrated throughout in muted blues and browns, giving the look of an old ship’s journal. Youngsters from third to sixth grade will find this a wonderful way to learn some fascinating history.