Cook up Some Fun for Kids with New Cheerios(R) Cookbook; New Cookbook Features Creative Food and Craft Recipes Designed for Young Children and Their Parents.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Cheerios(R) is helping parents introduce their kids to the kitchen - and build their self-esteem in the process - with the new Cheerios Cookbook: Tasty Treats and Clever Crafts for Kids. The book features 25 playful food recipes and 10 clever craft recipes, each illustrated with its own full-color photograph, and a kid-friendly format. The easy-to-make food and craft recipes also present safety and nutrition information, and use ingredients commonly found in family homes, including Cheerios cereal.

"For any parent who's heard the plea 'Can I help?' when they're working in the kitchen, this cookbook offers just the answer, with ideas that are so clever and simple to make, any child can feel like a hero in the kitchen!" said Kim Walter, director of Book and Online Publishing for General Mills. "And parents will like the great nutrition Cheerios recipes always provide."

With food ideas like Bee's Knees Banana Muffins, Frozen Yogonanas, and Snacks on Sticks, as well as craft recipes such as Pipe Cleaner Critters, For-the-Birds Feeder, Make 'n Eat Picture and the awesome Ollie Octopus, the cookbook will inspire children's creativity, build their self-confidence and appeal to their taste buds.

The recipes, which were tested by the experts in the Betty Crocker(R) Kitchens, include all nutrition and cooking information including dietary exchanges and carb choices.

In addition to the recipes, there's also a cooking checklist, recipe diary, and tips related to each recipe and craft. The cookbook features stay-flat binding and a wipe-off cover that will withstand many hours of kitchen wizardy and creative use.

The Cheerios Cookbook: Tasty Treats and Clever Crafts for Kids (Wiley; August 2005; ISBN 0-7645-9609-8; $9.95) uses a healthy food that families can feel good about. Four out of five pediatricians recommend Cheerios as a finger food for toddlers. Cheerios cereal is made with whole grain oats, has no artificial colors or flavors, is low in sugar and low in fat, high in fiber and provides 14 essential vitamins and minerals.

ABOUT CHEERIOS

Cheerios, America's No. 1 cereal, debuted in 1941 as Cheerioats. The nation's first ready-to-eat oat cereal has since become one of the most trusted and recognized brands in America. In fact, one of every 10 boxes of cereal sold in America is part of the Cheerios(R) cereal family of brands. General Mills' popular franchise includes Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, MultiGrain Cheerios, Team Cheerios, Berry Burst Cheerios and Yogurt Burst Cheerios. Cheerios introduced its first book, The Cheerios Play Book, back in 1998. Since then, the line of Cheerios books (including early readers, board books and electronic books) has sold more than three million copies. In addition, the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories(R) program helps get books into children's hands, distributing five million free books inside boxes of Cheerios cereal each year for the last four years, and helping to get books to children from low-income families. For more information, go to www.cheerios.com.

Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, MultiGrain Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Team Cheerios, Berry Burst Cheerios, and Yogurt Burst Cheerios are trademarks of General Mills.