Recommended Books
These books and other resources will help children explore the unit’s themes and topics.
Fiction
Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga deliciosa by Pat Mora
In this poem in English and Spanish, desert creatures listen to a mariachi band and eat lots of delicious food as they party.
Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin
While eating dim sum at a Chinese restaurant, family members choose a favorite item from carts brought to their table.
Dumpling Soup by Jama Kim Rattigan
A Hawaiian family gathers at grandma’s house to make dumplings for a New Year’s celebration.
Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley
A young girl discovers that all of her neighbors, despite their different backgrounds, eat rice. (See also Everybody Brings Noodles and Everybody Bakes Bread by the same author.)
Farmers Market by Carmen Parks
A Southwestern family grows and sells fruits and vegetables at the farmers market.
Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat
To his family’s disappointment, a young goat prefers fresh, healthy food instead of the usual goat fare.
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child
Lola’s brother gets her to eat her vegetables by convincing her that each green, orange, or red item comes from outer space or a far-off land.
Jalapeño Bagels by Natasha Wing
It’s International Day at school and Pablo, whose father is Jewish and whose mother is Mexican, must decide what to bring. Includes recipes.
Lunch by Denise Fleming
A mouse nibbles and crunches his way through a meal of brightly colored fruits and vegetables.
Mama Provi and the Pot of Rice by Sylvia Rosa-Casanova
Mama Provi makes arroz con pollo for her granddaughter, who has the chicken pox.
Stone Soup by Heather Forest
Two hungry and clever travelers teach a town a lesson in sharing. Includes a soup recipe.
To Market, To Market by Anne Miranda
A familiar nursery rhyme shows how a trip to a Spanish mercado ends in chaos.
Tortillas and Lullabies/Tortillas y cancioncitas by Lynn Reiser
Large colorful paintings show three generations sharing family traditions, including making tortillas.
Yum Yum Dim Sum by Amy Wilson Sanger
Collage illustrations and simple text introduce dim sum to children. (See also First Book of Sushi, ¡Hola! Jalapeño, A Little Bit of Soul Food, Let’s Nosh!, and Mangia! Mangia! by the same author.)
Nonfiction and Concept Books
Food for Thought by Saxton Freyman and Joost Elffers
This book invites children to explore shapes, colors, numbers, the alphabet, and opposites.
Good Enough to Eat: A Kid’s Guide to Food and Nutrition by Lizzy Rockwell
This book describes the six categories of nutrients needed for good health.
Growing Colors by Bruce McMillan
This book features bold and colorful photographs of fruits and vegetables.
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
A father and daughter grow vegetables and then make them into a soup.
The ABCs of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond by Steve Charney and David Goldbeck
This alphabet book includes jokes, tongue twisters, unusual facts, poems, kid-friendly recipes, shopping tips, and more.
The Farm Alphabet Book by Jane Miller
Photos show the beauty of farm life.
The Vegetable Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta and Bob Thomson
Graze through the alphabet in this fun, fact-filled book that begins with asparagus and ends with zucchetta.
Vegetables, Vegetables! by Fay Robinson
This book tells about different kinds of vegetables and how they grow.
Warthogs in the Kitchen: A Sloppy Counting Book by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Eight hungry warthogs take on the challenge of making cupcakes, with messy results.
We Love Fruit! by Fay Robinson
This book tells about different kinds of fruit and how they grow.
Cookbooks
Cool Foods for Fun Fiestas: Easy Recipes for Kids to Cook by Lisa Wagner
Color photographs show how to make fun and easy Mexican dishes.
Children’s Quick and Easy Cookbook by Angela Wilkes
Full-color photographs show how to make each recipe.
I’m the Chef: The Young Chef ’s Chinese Cookbook by Frances Lee
Full-color photos and step-by-step instructions make recipes easy to navigate.
Kids’ First Cookbook: Delicious-Nutritious Treats to Make Yourself! by The American Cancer Society
This cookbook is filled with healthy recipes, tips, and facts.
Salad People and More Real Recipes by Mollie Katzen
Celebrity chef Mollie Katzen cooks up 20 vegetarian recipes that kids six and under can prepare themselves, with a little help from an adult assistant.
The International Cookbook for Kids by Matthew Locricchio
A collection of recipes from four countries known for their cuisine: Italy, China, France, and Mexico.