Let’s get ready for the 11th year of Family Dinner Book Club with great books, themed food, conversation starters, and a little some extra special this year .
We’ve traveled around the world, built strong character traits, made a difference in the world, and so much more over the past ten years.
This year we are going to celebrate award winning and notable books to inspire our dinner book clubs.
Family Dinner Book Club FAQs and Changes
Before we get to the notable books and awards for each month, let me share a little more about Family Dinner Book Club.
- Jodie and Jazmin will share a featured book for different book award or notable book list. We will also include conversation starters you can print and have handy at the dinner table. We will also have links to a themed menu around the featured book. All of the information will be able to be accessed on the Growing Book by Book website right here on this post that will be updated throughout the year. So, pin this post or bookmark it so you can back to it time and time again.
- Sign up for our special Family Dinner Book Club email to get the links to each part of your dinner. This is the best way to receive the information each month.—->Sign Up Here to Get Your Monthly Email
*Please note that this is a special Family Dinner Book Club list. If you receive the Growing Book by Book newsletter, you will also need to sign up for this newsletter specific to Family Dinner Book Club.
- You read the book with your family and then pick a day to share a meal and discuss the book.
- The book club is geared towards families with children ages 4-8 but is super easy to adapt to younger and older children too. We even had adults in church groups use the books for club meetings!
- And, new for 2025 we will have a Bookies & Cookies option! This new feature is for families or clubs who would like to go a little deeper into the books and awards. Each month you will have what you need at your fingertips with the digital download PDF resource pack. There is information about the book award or notable list we feature, an activity, and printable cookie recipe related to the book or award each month. Many families will enjoy utilizing this resource before, after, or in place of your Family Dinner Book Club. If you would like to take advantage of this awesome addition, GRAB IT HERE.
A Year of Award Winning Books- 2025 Lineup of Different Book Awards and Books
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links,
Each month we will have a focus on a different book award. We have everything from the big Caldecott award to individual state awards. So, let’s celebrate!
January: Caldecott Award
Selected Book: Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
This book has won over 20 awards and honors including the a 2023 Caldecott Honor Book. In this delightful read-aloud we meet Owl. This creature has big dreams of becoming a knight and he feels that his nocturnal skills will make him a great watchmen of the castle. He uses his bravery, cleverness, and a dose of friendship to do just that.—>Order the Book Here
Knight Owl Family Dinner Book Club Resources
Conversation Starters:
- The Caldecott Award focuses on illustrations. How do you think the illustrations in this book were created? Let’s look at the back of the book under “About This Book” to find out. And, don’t miss the illustration under the cover of the book (aka the case cover or the book undie.)
- Find your favorite illustration in the book. Why do you like it so much?
- Was Knight Owl good at his job? What evidence from the book do you have to support your thinking?
- What things did Knight Owl and the Dragon have in common?
- Knight Owl and the Dragon enjoyed a pizza together. What are your favorite toppings to put on pizza? Do other people in your family like or dislike your favorites?
- What do you think it would be like to live in a castle?
Menu:
- Deviled Eggs (because owls and dragons hatch from eggs)
- Pizza (a meal shared between Knight Owl and the Dinosaur)
Quick and Easy No Knead Pizza Crust
Easy No Cook Pizza Sauce - Toasted Marshmallows (Did you catch them in the illustrations?)
Toast your marshmallows in the fireplace, over your gas oven burner, or make a campfire outside. If you are feeling extra fancy, make your own marshmallows. - Water (Always have on hand when fire is involved.) Serve your water in a fancy vessel and drink out of goblets.
Grab the printable resource below.
February: Coretta Scott King Award
Selected Book: How Do You Spell Unfair? by Carole Boston Weatherford
This 2024 Coretta Scott King Award Honor book is our feature for the month. In this book which is based on a true story, we are transported to 1936 when an 8th grader, MacNolia Cox, became the first African-American to win the Akron, Ohio spelling bee. This win qualified her for the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. This trip meant crossing the state line where segregation was the law of the land and discrimination was around every corner.—> Order Book Here
How Do You Spell Unfair? Family Dinner Book Club Resources
Conversation Starters:
- A Coretta Scott King Book Award honor book needs to “demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values” How does How Do You Spell Unfair? showcase that purpose?
- What thoughts did you have after reading/listening to the story?
- How can you support someone who is being treated unfairly?
- Reread the epilogue of the book. What can we learn from the time line provided?
- How do you think contestants of a Spelling Bee feel standing on stage?
- Have you ever competed in a Spelling Bee? How did you feel?
- Coretta Scott King was the wife of the Martin Luther King, Jr. What do you know about the work of these two individuals?
Menu:
Grab the printable resource below.
March: Mathical Book Prize
Selected Book: The Girl With a Mind for Math by Julia Finley Mosca
This month we are again featuring a book based on a true story. This time we are going to meet the mastermind behind ship design for the US Navy. Raye Montague faced discrimination for race and also gender. But, she persevered and became an engineer. At the end of the book, we are treated to a letter from Raye Montague to us.—> Order Book Here
The Girl With a Mind for Math Family Dinner Book Club Resources
Conversation Starters:
- What role did math play in this story?
- What did you learn about Raye Montague from this book? Did anything surprise you?
- Do you remember the message Ms. Montague wrote to readers at the end of the book? If not, let’s go back and read it again. How do you feel after listening to it?
- What would you ask or tell Ms. Montague if you met her in real life?
- Can you think of any other books that you have read that are about math or feature math in them
- Let’s look at the timeline in the book. Let’s find where we were each born on the timeline.
Menu: (A math filled menu)
Irish Potato Pie (Have the kids count the slices before serving.)
Ants on a Log
Spread peanut butter or sun butter on celery sticks. Top with raisins. Add as many raisins (aka ants) as you can count.
Fruit Salad or Kabobs
Find the average age of the kids in your family/class. That will determine how many fruits you put in your fruit salad.
OR
Make a pattern with fruits and place them on kabob sticks.
Grab the printable resources below.
April: Ezra Jack Keats Book Award
Selected Book: Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora
One by one, the people in the neighborhood are drawn by the scent of Omu’s thick red stew to her apartment. Omu is generous and gives each visitor a bowl until there is none left. But, then there is another knock at the door. Omu is genuinely touched by the generosity and gratitude of her neighbors. Thank You, Omu was the Ezra Jack Keats Book Winner for New Illustrator in 2019 amongst other honors and awards.—> Order Book Here
Thank You, Omu Family Dinner Book Club Resources
Conversation Starters:
- So many people in the community were drawn to Omu’s door from the delicious smell wafting through the air. What are some of your favorite smells?
- Oge Mora was a new author and illustrator when Thank You, Omu won the Ezra Jack Keats Award in 2019. Since then, she has won more awards and made notable lists. Let’s research some of her other books. Which ones should we read?
- What special dish would you serve to the community if you had the opportunity?
- Ms. Mora said in the author’s note that “omu” meant “Grandma” to her. Do you use the word “Grandma” or another name? Have you heard other words that are synonymous with “Grandma” around you?
- Why is it important to share in your community?
- Let’s study the illustrations in the book. What items do you think were used to create the collages?
Menu:
Enjoy some of the foods shared in the book for your special dinner. You might want to event some friends from the community for dinner too.
Roast Chicken
If you are short on time, you could purchase a rotisserie chicken from the store.
Milk
Grab the printable resources below.
May: Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature
Selected Book: Watercress by Andrea Wang
This is the story of a young girl and her family traveling through Ohio when they spot watercress alongside the road. The family piles out of the car and collects as much as they can. At first, the young girl is a bit embarrassed to be collecting food from alongside the road, but her mother shares a story from her childhood in China, that puts the experience in perspective. The young girl gains a new appreciation for foraging for food. The story was inspired by the author’s own childhood. Watercress was the 2022 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature winner along with over 20 other awards and honors.—>Order Book Here
Watercress Family Dinner Book Club Resources
Conversation Starters:
- The narrator of the story has lots of feelings about her family’s situation around watercress. What were some of those feelings?
- Have you ever spotted food growing outside the window? When and where?
- Foraging is looking for wild food sources. Many people forage for food. What types of food sources might one find if they forage?
- This story begins in Ohio but the family is transported through story to China. Do you have any family that lives in another country? If so, where?
- Does your family have any foods or dishes that hold meaning to you?
- In the author’s note we learn that book was sparked by a memory. What memories do you have that might make a great book?
Menu:
This month let’s have an Asian inspired meal to celebrate the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.
Rice
Tea
June: Odyssey Award
Selected Audiobook: The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett
Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen join forces again to bring us The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The troll is dreaming of all the ways to prepare goat. Will he get a chance? Get your earbuds ready to listen to the Odyssey Award honor book from 2023.—> Get the Audio Here
You can also check your library for digital listening resources such as Hoopla, Libby, and Cloud Library.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff Family Dinner Book Club Resources
Conversation Starters:
- How did the goats make it over the bridge without being eaten by the Troll? If they needed a back up plan, what would you have suggested?
- What do you know about goats? Why do some farms keep goats?
- What are the benefits of listening to audiobooks?
- How does this version of The Three Billy Goats Gruff differ from other versions you have read or listened to?
- If you had a herd of goats to name, what would you name them?
- Why do you think some people prefer listening to books vs visually reading them?
Menu:
Troll in the book dreams of preparing goat using all sorts of methods. Let’s try poaching, roasting and more this month. We will have a little goat via goat cheese too!
Eggs Florentine
Honey Bacon Roasted Potatoes
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Apple Strudel
Peach Smoothies
July: Orbis Pictus Award
Selected Book: Mystery of the Monarchs by Barb Rosenstock
How Kids, Teachers, and Butterfly Fans Helped Fred and Norah Urquhart Track the Great Monarch Migration is the subtitle for this book. Where do Monarchs go? Turns out if you have enough volunteers to tag the butterflies and then track them, you can find out. The journey leads to Mexico! Lots of backmatter is included to learn even more. This book was an Orbis Pictus Award recommended title in 2023.—> Order the Book Here
Mystery of the Monarchs Family Dinner Book Club Resources (coming in July 2025)
August: State Awards
Selected Book: The Paper Kingdom By Helena Ku Rhee
This CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards Winner from 2021 takes us into the night highlighting families who work throughout the nighttime hours. Daniel’s babysitter cancelled but his parents still need to go to work. So, Daniel travels with his parents where they are nighttime cleaners of offices. Little does Daniel know that he is about to enter the paper kingdom where adventure with kings, queens and dragons await him.—> Order Book Here
The Paper Kingdom Family Dinner Book Club Resources (coming Aug. 2025)
September: Pura Belpré Award
Selected Book: Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo
This 2024 Pura Belpré Award Honor Book is full of family love. Just like our book last month, a child travels to work with a parent. This time we have little Jesús helping his Papá who is a gardener. Jesús has a very important job during the day. He is in charge of the magical water-jug clock. Grab a glass of agua and enjoy.—> Order Book Here
Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock Family Dinner Resources (coming Sept. 2025)
October: Schneider Family Book Award
Selected Book: Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes
Rescue and Jessica introduces us to a dog and a young girl who both thought their lives were going to turn out differently. Together they learn a lot about each other. It’s a beautiful story of friendship between a girl and her service dog. This title was the 2019 winner of the Schneider Family Book Award.—>Order the Book Here
Rescue & Jessica Family Dinner Book Club Resources (coming Oct. 2025)
November: American Indian Youth Literature Award
Selected Book: Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck
This 2024 winner of the American Indian Youth Literature Award book introduces us to two cousins named Kara and Amanda who are best friends. Kara’s family is moving from the city to the Rez and everything is feeling different to both girls. After a year apart, the girls are reunited on the Rez and it doesn’t take long to pick back up where they left off.—> Order Book Here
Forever Cousins Family Dinner Book Club Resources (coming Nov. 2025)
December: NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
Selected Book: Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins
This 2020 notable book also took home over ten other awards and honors. Christmas is near and a family is headed to the border to visit their Abuela who they haven’t seen in five years. They have gifts to share, but will they all fit between the border fence? Turns out love can transcend fences.—> Order Book Here
Between Us and AbuelaFamily Dinner Book Club Resources (coming Dec. 2025)
Shop all of the books.
Family Dinner Book Club for Schools and Libraries
If you are an educator, you can even let your families know about Family Dinner Book Club. In fact, many schools and libraries host Family Dinner Book Club events.
I created a letter that you can send home with families introducing the Family Dinner Book Club and inviting families to join in 2025. Click HERE to download, print, and pass out the letter to families.
And, you can shop all of the books using the links above and via my Bookshop list HERE.
Print the 2025 Family Dinner Book Club Resource Packet
The printable resource packet includes the following resources each month:
- Information About the Award
- Book Synopsis
- Themed Menu with Links to Recipes
- Conversation Starters
- Book Activity Idea
- Printable Cookie Recipe Related to the Theme
This is perfect for people who just want to do Family Dinner Book Club, Bookies & Cookies version, or both! No need to wait for Family Dinner Book Club resources each month. You can access EVERYTHING now with this option.
Don’t want everything in one package or don’t wish to have the Cookies & Bookies option? Not a problem. Check this post each month for the themed menu with links and printable conversation starters for free.
I look forward to helping you connect with family through great books!