Unusual family cook book

[Jux]

That's what my friend wants for Xmas. She has said "something different". She has 2 small children so I thought Cooking with Coco so she can encourage them, but I wanted another more practical food for the family one which she or her partner can use.

I'll look at tv chef books, but wondered if there's a book somewhere which is not so well known but someone swears by for interestingness, originality but also practical and straightforward (friends are very busy working parents).

I don't actually have it, ut really fancy this Julie Goodwin, having recently watched the first Aussie Masterchef.
Or for something different, Everyday Harumi which I do have and everything I've tried has een great.

Mmm. That looks good too.

I have also found www.amazon.co.uk/Plot-Pot-Scrumptious-Recipes-Vegetables/dp/0956637914/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355587241&sr=1-1

and this one
www.amazon.co.uk/Grandmothers-Family-Cookbook-Catherine-Best/dp/0754823385/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355587366&sr=1-1

if anyone has a copy of either of those, could you tell me what you think of them? What sort of recipes, easy to follow, how easy/complicated?

It would be much easier if I could be sure they had them at Waterstones which is the only bookshop within 30 miles, and the only one I can even get to. Then I could look for myself.

For ease, one is by Madeleine Cardozo and the other Catherine Best.