Leading vegetarian cooking authority Madison's (Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone) latest cookbook combines the poetic gardening savvy of Nigel Slater's Tender and Ripe with the history and botany of James Peterson's Vegetables, Revised. To illustrate the similarities between edible plants, with the intent of teaching readers to become more intuitive cooks, Madison groups her recipes into 12 vegetable families subdivided by species (for instance, "The Sunflower Family" includes artichokes, cardoons, endives, tarragon, and more). For each plant, Madison includes a detailed description, selected varieties, storage and prep advice, and suggested flavor pairings. VERDICT This ambitious reference, beautifully photographed by Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirscheimer of Canal House, can help readers deepen their vegetable knowledge.