Falling for Food: Picture Books and more!
As children gain early learning skills, the power of reading can help them learn more about the social world around them. Reading books about food and cultures around the world establishes empathy and allows kids to embrace and share their cultural differences.
Early exposure to different cuisines can also be beneficial in establishing a healthy relationship with nutrition (reference). In their formative years, picture books about food can be a valuable tool for children to establish a healthy connection to food as they gain more familiarity with various foods. One way children can incorporate food acceptance through picture books is by learning cooking practices and step-by-step recipes that they can cook alongside their family.
We hope that by sharing our wonderful picture books that celebrate different cuisines, recipes, and themes, we can leave young readers some food for thought.
Have You Eaten? A Story of Food, Friendship, and Kindness by Su Youn Lee
Featured Cuisine: Korean
A charming, heartfelt picture book debut from Su Youn Lee, Have You Eaten? celebrates one of the many ways we show love, by sharing food.
Coco loved sweet potatoes, and she loved to share them with everyone around her.
Coco the chipmunk is known for asking, “Have you eaten?” and sharing sweet potatoes. The other animals find Coco’s question odd, but one day she shares her food with some animals who could use a friend. When Coco falls ill, her new friends come to care for her in the same way she taught them—by sharing food.
Inspired by a Korean greeting, this heartwarming story offers a fresh take on friendship and kindness.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by by Kevin Noble Maillard; illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Featured Cuisine: Indigenous
Winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
A 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner
“A wonderful and sweet book . . . Lovely stuff.” —The New York Times Book Review
Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal.
Fry bread is food.
It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.
Fry bread is time.
It brings families together for meals and new memories.
Fry bread is nation.
It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.
Fry bread is us.
It is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference.
Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites by Jamie Michalak and Debbi Michiko Florence; illustrated by Yuko Jones
Featured Cuisine: Japanese
Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites is a picture book biography that tells the story of the powerhouse female Japanese-American chef and her rise to fame.
As a child and adult, Niki faced many naysayers in her pursuit of haute cuisine. Using the structure of a traditional kaiseki meal, the authors Debbi Michiko Florence and Jamie Michalak playfully detail Niki’s hunger for success in thirteen “bites” — from wonton wrappers she used to make pizza as a kid to yuzu-tomatillo sauce in her own upscale Los Angeles Michelin-starred restaurant, n/naka.
To anyone who tells her a woman can’t be a master chef, Niki lets her food do the talking. And oh, does it talk. Niki was featured on the first season of Netflix’s culinary documentary series Chef’s Table. And Chrissy Teigen proclaimed that Niki’s restaurant was one of her absolute favorites. She’s currently a featured teacher on MasterClass.
A smart, strong woman with starpower, Niki is only just getting started — like the young readers who will devour this book, featuring illustrations by Yuko Jones!
Granny’s Kitchen by Sadé Smith; illustrated by Ken Daley
Featured Cuisine: Jamaican
Accompanied by Ken Daley’s vibrant, sun-soaked artwork, Sadé Smith’s debut picture book Granny’s Kitchen is the perfect readaloud for budding chefs everywhere.
Shelly-Ann lives with her Granny on the beautiful island of Jamaica. When Shelly-Ann becomes hungry, she asks her Granny for something to eat. Granny tells her “Gyal, you betta can cook!” and teaches Shelly-Ann how to get in touch with her Jamaican roots through the process of cooking.
As Shelly-Ann tries each recipe, everything goes wrong. But when Granny is too tired to cook one morning, Shelly-Ann will have to find the courage to try one more time and prepare the perfect Jamaican breakfast.
Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith; illustrated by Sayada Ramdial
Featured Cuisine: Jamaican
Coupled with Sayada Ramdial’s bright and colorful artwork, Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith will have readers of all ages giggling—and craving a mango of their own!
Julie loves all kinds of fruit, but mangoes are her absolute favorite. One sticky summer afternoon, Julie goes to the big mango tree in her yard to ask for a snack.
But no matter how nicely she asks or how patient she tries to be, the tree just won’t drop a single sweet, juicy mango! Will Julie ever be able to convince the tree to let her have just a taste of her favorite treat?
Kobe Eats Pizza! by Ashley Wian with Cate Berry; illustrated by Joy Ang
Based on the viral internet sensation Kobe Eats, Kobe pulls together all the ingredients to help make dinner for his family in this humorous picture book, Kobe Eats Pizza! by Ashley Wian and Cate Berry.
Chef Kobe is the star of the kitchen! With his signature red apron and red chef’s hat, Kobe is ready to make another meal—PIZZA! He uses only the finest ingredients, never spills, and is very patient when waiting for the timer to go off . . .
While cooking is super fun, Chef Kobe always remembers the last, most important step: eating together as a family!
This story is as animated and sweet as the popular videos of him cooking online for his family. Joy Ang’s illustrations bring Kobe to life, filling the pages with love and humor.
Okra Stew by Natalie Daise
Featured Cuisine: Gullah
On Sale October 10, 2023
This rhythmic, joyous picture book from Natalie Daise, the co-star of the hit Nickelodeon show “Gullah Gullah Island,” celebrates a special day of father-son cooking, and serves up a love letter to food, family, Gullah Geechee culture, and tradition—and includes the author’s own recipe! For fans of Fry Bread, My Papi Has a Motorcycle, and Thank You, Omu!
Papa has something special planned for tonight’s family dinner—and Bobo can’t wait! Excited to learn how to make okra stew like his ancestors, Bobo helps Papa pick veggies from the garden, catch shrimp from the creek, rain down rice in the pot, simmer the stew, and even make a tasty side of cornbread. When the stew begins to bubble and pop, Bobo and his family gather around for a mouthwatering feast.
Boys Don’t Fry by Kimberly Lee; illustrated by Charlene Chua
Featured Cuisine: Malaysian
On Sale November 14, 2023
Jin wishes his family would ask him to help prepare the Lunar New Year feast. But boys, or Babas, never get asked—only Nyonyas, the girls.
It’s the eve of Lunar New Year, and Jin can’t wait for the big family reunion dinner. He loves the aromas and the bubbly chatter coming from the kitchen. His grandmother, Mamah, is cooking up a storm!
As his aunties dice, slice, and chop, there’s nothing Jin wants more than to learn about the history of his family’s cooking and to lend them a helping hand. After all, no one else can tell the difference between ginger and galangal as well as he can! But his aunties shoo him away, claiming he’ll just get bored or be in the way. Luckily, Mamah steps in and asks Jin to help her prepare their special meal. Soon, Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too!
This loving picture book about a young Malaysian boy who defies gender expectations will make hearts warm and stomachs hungry. With beautifully vibrant illustrations of a traditional nyonya kitchen, Boys Don’t Fry is a heartfelt celebration of family, culture, and traditions—both old and new.
Laolao’s Dumplings by Dane Liu; illustrated by ShinYeon Moon
Featured Cuisine: Chinese
On Sale December 5, 2023
Millie loves to help LaoLao cook, especially her favorite dish. Dumplings! They gather fresh ingredients from Chinatown. Chives from Auntie Lim, shrimp from Uncle Lee, and juicy, fragrant lychees that make their days together so sweet.
As the seasons change, LaoLao feels more and more tired, too tired to make dumplings. But can Millie make them without LaoLao? And will her dumplings come out delicious, and make LaoLao happy, too?
Full of humor, heart, and wholly original illustrations, this story is a timeless celebration of family, food, community, and the different ways we share love.
Time to Eat! by Vickie Lee; illustrated by Joey Chou
Featured Cuisine: Chinese
On Sale January 2, 2024
Sparse text and bright illustrations help readers learn the names of all of their favorite dishes in both English and Mandarin. From spare ribs to spring pea shoots there’s something for everyone in this timeless story about dinner time.
Monster Baker by Laura Lavoie; illustrated by Vanessa Morales
In this punny picture book with bright and colorful illustrations an adorable monster learns about determination after a series of baking disasters, perfect for fans of Marigold Bakes a Cake.
Tomorrow is Grandmonster’s 247th birthday, and Tillie has a boo-rilliant idea. She’s going to bake a birthday cake! But when Uncle Hairy gobbles up Tillie’s near-Pierrefect Squirmin’ Chocolate Cake, she rushes to bake another.
SPLAT!
And another.
“MY CAKE!”
And another.
SHRIEK!
Baking on her own isn’t easy, and Tillie makes many mistakes, learning that with a little patience, care, and determination, she can do just about anything. After all, like star chef Pierre du Monstère says, “A baker always rises to the occasion!”
I Am Picky by Kristen Tracy; illustrated by Erin Kraan
A laugh-out-loud picture book about a self-proclaimed picky eater of a raccoon—perfect for human picky eaters!
Don’t look at this raccoon and think she’ll eat just anything. Oh, no. She is picky! She’s been choosy forever—and listen, it’s a tough life. It’s not as though the perfect snacks just fall from the sky (except when they do). You’ve got to work to find the sourest milk, the crunchiest bumblebees, and the most delicious trash. Snacking while picky is a real challenge sometimes…but you never know where you’ll find the tastiest treats to try!
From children’s author Kristen Tracy and rising star illustrator Erin Kraan, I Am Picky is sure to delight even the choosiest of eaters—and readers.
There’s No Such Thing as Vegetables by Kyle Lukoff; illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
On Sale February 27, 2024
A hilarious new picture book that exposes vegetables for what they truly are—leaves, roots, flowers, and stalks—by National Book Award Finalist and Newbery Honor winner Kyle Lukoff, perfect for fans of the Our Universe series.
Chester plans to have a salad for lunch, but in order to do that, he’ll need vegetables. So, off he goes to the community garden, except he quickly learns that he won’t be dressing a salad anytime soon. Instead, the vegetables start dressing him down. According to them, “vegetables” don’t exist!
I know what you are thinking: What the bell pepper? Vegetables are totally real! But here’s the thing: Kale is just a leaf, broccoli is a flower, potatoes are roots, and celery…well, stalks. Thanks to a lively, sassy cast of talking “veggies,” Chester learns a valuable lesson about categories and how they shape our understanding of the world.
With a slyly informative text and illustrations that will crack readers up, the schooling in There’s No Such Thing As Vegetables will be easy to digest and is a total treat.
Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow
Featured Themes: Friendship, Mental Health
Just a Pinch of Magic, Alechia Dow’s middle-grade debut, is as warm and sweet as a cinnamon bun, bursting with magic and sure to please the pickiest readers.
Wini’s family of enchanters runs a little bakery, but with the prices of magical ingredients skyrocketing, they’re going under. Desperate to save her family’s business, Wini takes a risk by casting a (sort of illegal) spell that would allow them to gather their own supply of their most needed magical ingredient: Love. But the spell doesn’t work. And Wini soon discovers that it didn’t just not work, it backfired. Badly. Now the whole town is in danger, and the Enchantment Agency is sniffing around for whoever cast the wayward spell.
It’s just been Kal and her dad for as long as she can remember. They’ve weathered everything together, including Kal’s mental health struggles. But just as they’re about to move to a new town for a fresh start, Kal’s grandfather—who mysteriously vanished years ago—has suddenly reentered their lives with a desire to make amends. He joins them in opening their bookstore in the new town, but Kal can’t help but wonder if he has anything to do with the whispers around her new home about wicked magic. And it’s not just the whispers of the magical books in their shop.
When Wini and Kal cross paths—both hoping for the chance to finally make a friend without worrying about their family histories following them—the girls bond over being fellow outcasts. Together they search for the solution to fixing the magic gone awry in their beloved town—and just maybe get their dads to go out on a date.
The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
Featured Cuisine: Baking and Desserts
A pun-filled YA contemporary romance, The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar finds a teenage girl competing in a televised baking competition, with contestants including her ex-girlfriend and a potential new crush – perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off and She Drives Me Crazy!
“Welcome to the first ever Junior Irish Baking Show!”
Shireen Malik is still reeling from the breakup with her ex-girlfriend, Chris, when she receives news that she’s been accepted as a contestant on a new televised baking competition show. This is Shireen’s dream come true! Because winning will not only mean prize money, but it will also bring some much-needed attention to You Drive Me Glazy, her parents’ beloved donut shop.
Things get complicated, though, because Chris is also a contestant on the show. Then there’s the very outgoing Niamh, a fellow contestant who is becoming fast friends with Shireen. Things are heating up between them, and not just in the kitchen.
As the competition intensifies, Shireen will have to ignore all these factors and more—including potential sabotage—if she wants a sweet victory!
Family Style: Memories of An American from Vietnam by Thien Pham
Featured Cuisine: Vietnamese
A moving young adult graphic memoir about a Vietnamese immigrant boy’s search for belonging in America, perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and The Best We Could Do!
Thien’s first memory isn’t a sight or a sound. It’s the sweetness of watermelon and the saltiness of fish. It’s the taste of the foods he ate while adrift at sea as his family fled Vietnam.
After the Pham family arrives at a refugee camp in Thailand, they struggle to survive. Things don’t get much easier once they resettle in California. And through each chapter of their lives, food takes on a new meaning. Strawberries come to signify struggle as Thien’s mom and dad look for work. Potato chips are an indulgence that bring Thien so much joy that they become a necessity.
Behind every cut of steak and inside every croissant lies a story. And for Thien Pham, that story is about a search– for belonging, for happiness, for the American dream.
