17 Children’s Books We Love All About Food

Kids learn about food in all kinds of places, from the school garden to the cafeteria to the family dinner table. But no matter where kids explore food, there are countless children’s books out there to support their learning. 

Among the thousands of children’s books that teach kids about cooking, gardening, ingredients, or tasting new foods, we’ve hand-picked a few of our favorites for nurturing kids’ curiosity about food.

Children’s Books We Love All About Food

FoodCorps members use the children’s books below to support their lessons in classrooms, cafeterias, and gardens. Read on to learn more about what these books can bring to your classroom or home library! 

Rah, Rah, Radishes! by April Pulley Sayre

How do your kids feel about veggies? The rhymes and chants in this book are a spirited celebration of nourishing food. 

My Very First Book of Food by Eric Carle

This colorful children’s classic is a fun exploration for younger children about what people, animals, and plants eat.

Sylvia’s Spinach by Katherine Pryor

Spinach not a household favorite yet? Invite kids to join Sylvia as she grows spinach in the school garden and learns to love new foods. 

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child

Sometimes a little imagination is all kids need to help them try a new food. In this story, two siblings use their creativity to tell silly stories about fruits and veggies. 

Before We Eat by Pat Brisson

This sweet book celebrates the people who prepare our food, from growers to animal caretakers to shelf stockers, and encourages kids to share their gratitude for them. 

One Bean by Anne Rockwell  

What can you do with just one bean? This playful book about plant science takes young readers through the life cycle of a plant. 

Zora’s Zucchini by Katherine Pryor

Home gardeners know that one plant can make a LOT of zucchini! In this story, young gardener Zora grows a plan to share this abundant veggie with her community. 

Fidget Grows a Pizza Garden by Jodie Fitz

Who knew that so many of our favorite foods come from plants? Follow along with Fidget as she learns which plants help make pizza, then learn how to grow your own pizza garden at home. 

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Nourishing food comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Little ones learn about the many colors of the garden in this colorful book.

A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds by Jean Richards

This book teaches kids all about seeds: why they matter, how they grow, and how they travel through the world safe inside our favorite fruits. 

The Sandwich Swap by Kelly DiPucchio and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah 

For kids learning to celebrate differences, this book tells a hopeful story about respecting different likes and dislikes—including food.

Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris

People all over the world love bread. How is this delicious staple made, prepared, and eaten in different countries? 

Round is a Tortilla by Roseanne Greenfield Thong

Round tortillas, triangular watermelon slices, rectangular ice-cream carts! A FoodCorps favorite, this book helps kids identify the shapes that show up in their favorite foods. 

Summer Sun Risin’ by W. Nikola-Lisa

Complete with vivid imagery of a sun traveling across the sky in a day, this sweet story celebrates family life on a Texas farm.

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

What happens when you need to make an apple pie, but the market is closed? You travel the world for the ingredients, of course! 

Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth

This beautiful book retells the classic story of hungry strangers who make a delicious soup from stones. Kids will learn that we can go farther when we work together. 

Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson 

Fans of autumnal pumpkin patches will love this science-forward book about the life cycle of fall’s favorite crop. Bonus: the author shares advice on how to grow your own pumpkin! 

What are your favorite children’s books about food? Let us know by tagging us on social media @foodcorps!