Looking for some “not so obvious” picture books about food? These unconventional picture books about food cannot be found by searching “food” in the library’s catalog, but they are exciting and new and a little more unique. And they’re about all kinds of different foods! Recipes included.
When looking for picture books about food, we often think of the obvious – The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, and even newer books like Peanut Butter and Cupcake by Terry Border. But sometimes we want to try new things and introduce kids to new books. Here are a few of the more unconventional picture books about food!
Life on Mars by Jon Agee
CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
A young boy explores Mars, convinced there is life there. He even brings chocolate cupcakes to share with any Martians he may find. Eventually, he leaves Mars after only finding a flower but is surprised to see someone has already eaten his cupcake!
Make chocolate cupcakes with the kids in your life! You can even make cupcakes with no oven; we made ours using the microwave. Use these microwave-safe baking cups and follow this recipe.
Blobfish Throws a Party by Miranda Paul
CANDY
Blobfish wants delicious treats and friends. (Don’t we all?) He decides the best way to gain both would be to throw a party, but his invitation get lost in translation and Blobfish stays alone and candy-less. That is until aliens try to steal all of Earth’s candy – WHAT? But they’re scared away when kids fling a bunch of underwear onto their spaceships (the kids thought Blobfish asked them to throw their underwear, not bring a treat to share!) Out of gratitude, Earth’s candy store owners provide Blowfish with an unlimited supply of candy and Blobfish was finally noticed.
You can eat candy with your kids to go along with this book – simple as that. Or you can try making some Candy Sushi or these simple Jolly Rancher suckers. You could even try Jelly Bean cookies!
Bear’s House of Books by Poppy Bishop
PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES
Rabbit, Fox, Hedgehog, and Mouse only have one book. And since they love their one book a whole lot, they want to find more. They set off on an adventure to find more books (eating, of course, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches). They stumble across one of Bear’s books in the woods and in an effort to return it, they find themselves lost in the hundreds of stories in Bear’s house. Bear comes home and is upset that his books are so sticky from the sandwiches, but he realizes that his book collection is too great not to share. After establishing some rules (no jelly near the books), Bear shares his books with the forest.
We spiced up the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich recipe by making Peanut Butter and Jelly Rolls. You can see the whole program here.
Earn It! A Moneybunny Book by Cinders McLead
CARROTS
Carrots = money in Bunnyland. And Bun, an aspiring singer, wants to be rich and famous. Which means she wants lots and lots of carrots. This sweet book highlights the importance of working hard, and you’ll even get to sneak in a little math!
Need more ways to get your kids to eat carrots? Try Veggie Popsicles! Or have your kids help you whip up some Carrot Cupcakes!
Splat! by Jon Burgerman
ICE CREAM CONES
This interactive, colorful book will take your child on an adventure through a little green monster’s journey of food hitting him in the face when you turn each page. Your kids will laugh and laugh and will love the last Splat! – a whole bunch of ice cream cones!
Ice cream cones are a good enough treat all on their own! Make them at home for even more fun – add sprinkles, cherries, sauce, etc.
https://www.learnplayread.com/unconventional-picture-books-about-food/