celebrating 20 years of reading!
At RFRK, we believe in the value of food literacy. It not only empowers kids to gain knowledge about what they eat, but also instills life lessons surrounding food — like patience, sharing, & open-mindedness.
Over the past 20 years, we’ve discovered many children’s books that whisk young readers away on food-filled adventures, all while enabling & inspiring a future of healthy eating, teaching them about various cultures, and helping them expand their food literacy. Let’s explore our top picks from our ever-growing collection!
Written by Lisa Borden and illustrated by Wengsi Chiu, this children’s picture book encourages children to try new foods! Who doesn’t love a delicious kale chip?
Mrs. Peanuckle’s Vegetable Alphabet
Illustrated by Jessie Ford, this vibrant book matches each letter of the alphabet with a tasty vegetable! It’s a great way for toddlers to learn the ABCs and engage with healthy food at the same time.
Written by Aisha Saeed and illustrated by Anoosha Syed, Bilal hopes to show off his cooking chops to his friends by making this traditional Indian dish!
Written by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua, Amy’s quest towards making the perfect bao bun shows kids the value of resourcefulness and determination (and delicious food!)
This book utilizes a loving relationship between two brothers to teach kids what goes into a bowl of lentil soup. Written by Carole Tremblay and illustrated by Maurèen Poignonec, this book is also available in French!
Edited by Nadia L. Hohn and illustrated by Roza Nozari, this collection book includes 21 stories from kid-lit authors of colour and celebrates activism, resistance, family, friends, and food.
Grandma Lena’s Big ol’ Turnip
This heartwarming story serves up familial bonding while exploring the benefits and basics of vegetable gardening. It’s written by Denia Lewis Hester and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic.
Written by Pierrette Dubé and illustrated by Yves Dumont, this book shows three peas in a pod on a quest from the farm to the grocery store. Read this to your kids to teach them where produce comes from!
Written and illustrated by Shabazz Larkin, this visually stimulating poetry book is a favourite amongst kids and adults alike!
Did we miss one of your fave books? Leave us a comment below!