Food is a common theme in children’s books. There are thousands of picture books about food. Eating food. Growing food. Identifying food. Cooking food. Even digesting food.
We all have to eat and the array of colorful and diverse food that exists is endlessly fascinating…and delectable. This list is a place to start. A collection of fun, sweet, inspiring, and appetizing children’s books about food.
This list of books will work for anyone reading with young children, but it was originally created for our A Read A Day challenge for November 2019. Click –> A READ A DAY <– to learn more about this fun, free program.
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15 Children’s Books about Food
Below are a collection of amazing books to read aloud to a group, share with your child, or have on your shelves. We have read and loved each and every one.
1.Dozens of Doughnuts
by Carrie Finison
illustrated by Brianne Farley
This THE DOORBELL RANG but with doughnuts and an increasingly hungry bear. When you combine a baking bear getting ready to hibernate, a whole cast of adorable animals, and dozens of doughnuts you get a fun read aloud. Well paced, cheerful and delicious are all words that come to mind when reading this story. It is a rhyming tale delightfully full of colorful doughnuts, fun animal friends, and a plot twist that, although somewhat predictable, is as warm and perfect as a fresh doughnut.
2. Yummy YUCKY
by Leslie Patricelli
This is a fun food book for toddlers. I love this series of opposite books by Leslie Patricelli. This one is about the yummy things we eat and the not so yummy things baby probably shouldn’t eat. Brief text and simple but colorful illustrations make this an engaging read for little ones.
3. The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza)
by Philemon Sturges
This is one of our favorite versions of The Little Red Hen. It follows the traditional format, but instead of bread the Little Red Hen is making delicious pizza. I love doing a story study with this story. Read a few different versions – some classic and some twists like this one and then talk about how they’re similar and different.
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Pizza Party Storytime
4. 1 Big Salad : A Delicious Counting Book
by Juana Medina
I don’t know if this book will convince my kids to eat salad, but it is certainly worth a shot. This book has so much fun with fruit and vegetables. Simple text and playful illustrations.
5. Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’
by Eileen Spinelli
illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
This is an amusing story about a family’s thanksgiving where every part of the meal goes wrong. At the end they are all reminded that it’s being together that matters the most, not having the perfect Thanksgiving feast. Cute story and good message about the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
6. The Doorbell Rang
by Pat Hutchins
Apparently I am on a classic kick. This is another great one. It is a fun story about a tray of cookies and a whole bunch of guests. It is also excellent for a quick math lesson.
7. Gulp, Gobble
Written by Marilyn Singer
Illustrated by Kathryn Durst
This is full of great eating words and food. It’s a fun one to put in the hands of new readers. It only uses 24 words and those are all listed with pronunciations at the beginning. I love that it’s a super simple book but it has words that you don’t often find in Easy Readers even though they can be (mostly) sounded out using basic phonics skills.
Also Read: Stone Soup Storytime
8. Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z
by Lois Ehlert
We love and own many of Ehlert’s books, but this is our favorite about food. It inspired us to try all kinds of new fruits and vegetables. A fun and beautiful alphabet book.
9. The Mystery of the Missing Cake
by Claudia Boldt
This is kind of “who stole the cookie” except it’s cake and a little quirky. The animals are all playing a game in the dark at a party and when the lights turn on the cake has been stolen, but by whom?
10. Chik Chak Shabbat
by Mara Rockliff
illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
I came across this book at the Tenement Museum in NYC and knew I had to own it. It’s a book about family and friends, it’s a book about apartment living, it’s a book about traditions, and it’s a book about food. It’s beautifully written and illustrated with such energy.
11. Your Amazing Digestion from Mouth Through Intestine
by Joanne Settel, PhD
illustrated by Steve Bjorkman
This book goes in a different direction, rather than food it is about how our bodies digest food. This is for the question asker, scientist, nonfiction lover in your life. It is thick and long and has tons of cool fact. Definitely for elementary schoolers, rather than toddlers and preschoolers.
12. Soup Day
by Melissa Iwai
This is a warm and cozy book about a little girl who makes soup with her mom on a cold day. The recipe is included in the back. When my kids were toddlers we made a little day out of this book. Reading it, shopping for the ingredients, making the soup together, and eating it. It’s also just a fun read about cooler weather and a sweet relationship between a mom and her little one.
13. Try it! How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat
by Mara Rockliff
illustrated by Giselle Potter
Frieda Caplan was the ultimate adventurous eater. Working at the Seventh Street Produce Market in LA in the 1950s, Frieda thought customers should be offered new and interesting foods to try like mushrooms, snap peas and kiwi. She later went on to found a specialty produce company, becoming the first woman to do so in the US. If you’ve ever eaten a kiwi, you likely have her to thank. This book shares her adventurous spirit and willingness to try something new. Hopefully it will encourage readers to grab something new the next time they’re at the farmers’ market or grocery store.
14. When Lola Visits
by Michelle Sterling
art by Aaron Asis
A beautiful story about summertime and family. Summer for this young girl is all about the smells of delicious food, the salty ocean, of her Lola. Summer means a visit from her grandmother who fills her house with wonderful smells. Delectable language and gentle illustrations pair to make the perfect summer story full of the memories that make it the best time of year.
15. Dumpling Day
Words by Meera Sriram
Art by Ines de Antuanano
Recipes by Laurel P. Jackson
Books that make math fun are always favorites in my house. This book combines counting, addition, cooking and world food in a bright, engaging package. Around the world there are different versions of dumplings. Readers are introduced to this huge variety while being encouraged to add and count. At the back there are recipes for all TEN dumplings for you to make and have your own dumpling day.
16. Around the Table that Grandad Built
by Melanie Heuiser Hill
illustrated by Jaime Kim
This is a bright, fun story about a family coming together for a meal. It starts with a cumulative structure that dissolves when food comes into play. The illustrations and words together create a warmth that mirrors the family meal time.
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