Books: Celebrity cool for school

Alla Wolf-Tasker, Matt Preston, Curtis Stone, Stephanie Alexander - they're all doing it. By contributing a recipe, or adding an endorsement, chefs are helping to add sparkle to the humble school cookbook, often skyrocketing sales and appealing to a wider audience beyond proud parents.

But working with non-existent budgets, gathering resources and juggling sponsors are all part of the deal, and successful fundraising is no cakewalk. Linda Di-Giusto is one of four self-described ''crazy mums'' responsible for Bellarine Cuisine, a cookbook nine months in the making to raise money for the 150 students at Wallington Primary School. Matt Preston was approached after talking up the Bellarine Peninsula on MasterChef, and a sponsor knew Curtis Stone's mum - both celebs contributed recipes. ''We just thought we'd ask,'' says

Di-Giusto. ''It gave us a bit of oomph and credibility.'' The team also sourced material from 35 eateries across the peninsula, and families within the school community.

The first print-run of 250 sold out, as did the second, so they upped the third run to 350 copies. Di-Giusto estimates they will raise $13,000 after printing costs, which claimed 50 per cent of the total profits.

Melbourne Grammar upped the ante in 2010 with Sharing Food, shot by former parent and renowned food photographer Mark Chew and respected food stylist Caroline Velik.

Printing is a major hurdle for school community cookbooks. North Melbourne Primary School mum Cathy Robinson is seeking sponsorship for a second pressing of The North Melbourne Table, inspired by the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation program at the school.

With sponsorship from a local real estate agency and contributions from eateries, all 1000 copies - at $35 a pop - sold in five weeks. The profits, which Robinson prefers not to outline, returned significantly more than the traditional sausage sizzle, but reprinting will eat into over 75 per cent of the first-round proceeds. Even if the cookbook is reprinted, time's ticking on. ''It's two years later and quite a lot of the kids have left the school, two of the restaurants have closed … so do you just reprint as is, or do you do it again, which is a lot of work?''

Stephanie Alexander cautions schools embarking on a cookbook project to be wary of copyright infringement.

''It embarrasses me when I find recipes that are absolutely well known as belonging to somebody well known and it hasn't been acknowledged,'' she says. Alexander also says there's no need to set the bar too high. ''I don't think a school needs to produce something that vaguely represents a coffee table book. It should reflect the personality of the school.''

Alla Wolf-Tasker wrote Grow, Cook, Eat ''in the wee hours'' to support the Kitchen Garden program at Daylesford Primary School. In exchange for the photographer's work, she bartered an extended weekend at the Lake House. Around 2500 copies must sell to guarantee the program's survival for another two years.

Top 5 school cookbooks

1. Best Recipes: From Generations of Strathcona Families
Child-friendly and adults-only recipes from former and current students (including Good Food Guide editor Janne Apelgren), endorsed by Guy Grossi.
$40; 8779 7516 or cro@strathcona.vic.edu.au

2. Kitchen Garden Cooking with Kids by Stephanie Alexander with Anna Dollard.
Part diary, with seasonal menus designed specifically for kids, and many recipes based on Alexander's food bible The Cook's Companion.
$40; kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/shop

3. Grow, Cook, Eat by Alla Wolf-Tasker and Andrew Stone.
Straightforward recipes with ''tips'' and ''cheffy notes'' featuring lunchbox ideas. For more, head to the Daylesford Primary Local Harvest Festival for a cooking class (for kids aged 10 to 14) with Kitchen Whiz's Alice Zaslavsky, this Saturday.
$29.95; click here to buy

4. Bellarine Cuisine produced by Wallington Primary School.
Recipes from families plus some more elaborate dishes, including recipes from Curtis Stone and Matt Preston.
$30; facebook.com/bellarinecuisine or contact bellarinecuisine@gmail.com

5. Recipes for Literacy by Stephanie Alexander.
For children learning to read or anyone struggling with English, with step-by-step recipes from the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Foundation.
$39.95; kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/shop