Booking Across the USA: Family Dinner Book Club 2026

For 2026, the Family Dinner Book Club theme is Booking Across the USA. Our goal is to celebrate beauty, kindness, love, and adventure all while having a sense of awe. We are focusing on the good in our country as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Family Dinner Book Club FAQs and Changes

Before we get to books for each month, let me share a little more about Family Dinner Book Club.

• Jodie and Jazmin will share a featured book for a different state or region each month. We will also include conversation starters and 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 and 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/class/group 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 have even had adults in church groups use the books for club meetings!
• We again have a special addition option!  This year it is called Pit Stop. This new feature is for families or clubs who would like to go a little deeper into the books.  Each month you will have what you need at your fingertips with the digital download PDF resource pack.  There is information about the state/region, a map, an activity, pit stop snack idea, and a printable additional reading book list based on the featured the book or region.  The resource pack includes all of that plus the printable conversation starters and menu links.  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.

Booking Across the USA: Month by Month List

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

To purchase books: View the List 

January- Alaska

Selected Book: Moon Song by Michaela Goade

Moon Song by Michaela Goade is the second book in a four book series. The first book in the series, Berry Song, won a Caldecott Honor. In Moon Song, we journey to an island on the edge of a shimmering sea where we meet a young girl who spins a story for her cousin who is worried about the dark winter. For there is so much beauty that comes with the night from the moonlight to the northern lights.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources

Conversation Starters:

• How many things can you think of to do at night? Which one is your favorite?
• Our book utilizes a feature called a gatefold. It’s a part of the page that folds out from the center of the book. Find the gatefold in the book. Why do you think the author/illustrator chose this spot to use one?
• Our story takes places on an island. What does this mean? Look at a map of Alaska. Can you find other islands in and around Alaska?
• Take a look at the night sky tonight. What shape is the moon? Where in the sky is it?
• Our story takes places in the winter. What are your favorite things about this season?
• Goade’s first book in this series was Berry Song and we just read Moon Song. She has two more books coming out in the series. What do you think the titles may be?

Themed Menu:

For our dinner this month we are going to have a warm and comforting meal.

Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup

Homemade Crescent Rolls

Chocolate Sheet Cake

Milk

February- All the States

Selected Book: 50 States of Love by Anna Aronson

50 States of Love: A Celebration of America by Anna Aronson invites us to journey through the 50 states exploring lovely things in each state from the sweet peaches in Georgia to the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming February 2026)

March- California

Selected Book: Redwoods by Jason Chin

Get ready to learn lots of amazing information about the ancient Redwoods trees as we travel to the forest in Redwoods by Jason Chin.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming March 2026)

April- National Parks

Selected Book: I Am Made of Mountains by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs

Discover some of the unique aspects of different National Parks in I Am Made of Mountains: An Ode to National Parks- The Landscapes of Us by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs and Vivian Mineker. Sixteen different parks are featured in the book.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming April 2026)

May- Across the States

Selected Book: Are We There Yet? by Stacy McAnulty and Elizabeth Baddeley

Are We There Yet? by The First Road Trip Across the USA by Stacy McAnulty and Elizabeth Baddeley is the story of a man who took a bet that he couldn’t drive across the USA in less than three months. Will he, his mechanic driver, and Bud the bulldog make it? It won’t be easy but it will definitely be an adventure.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming May 2026)

June- Tennessee- Smoky Mountains

Selected Book: Firefly Song by Colleen Paeff and ji-Hyuk Kim

After growing up observing fireflies, Lynn realizes there is something special about them. She notices that they perform a synchronized light show. But, scientists try to tell her that isn’t possible for that type doesn’t exist in the Western Hemisphere. With hard work and persistence, Lynn convinces the scientists that she is right.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming June 2026)

July- America

Selected Book:  Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus and Kadir Nelson

Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus and Kadir Nelson is a story showing the parallel between America and the American flag. The illustrator showcases the resilience of the American principles in addition to the beauty of our strength and perseverance.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming July 2026)

August- Pacific Northwest

Selected Book: Salmon Run by Annie Chen

Salmon Run: An Epic Journey to the Ocean and Back by Annie Chen takes us on the journey of a coho salmon from egg to spawning adult which can be found in the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming August 2026)

September- Across the States

Selected Book: The Friendship Train by Debbie Levy and Boris Kulikov

Read The Friendship Train: A True Story of Helping and Healing after World War II by Debbie Levy and Boris Kulikov.

After the end of WWII, Europe was in desperate need of food. American citizens rallied together collecting food. A friendship train traveled from the West Coast to the East Coast collecting the donations. This is the story of that journey. We are left with an understanding that acts of small kindness can have a great impact.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming September 2026)

October- Great Lakes Region

Selected Book: Great Lakes by Barb Rosentock and Jamey Christoph

The Great Lakes by Barb Rosenstock is about how the Great Lakes formed, how they flow, the plants and animals that call the lakes home, and so much more.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming October 2026)

November- Washington D.C.

Selected Book: Honor Flight by Jeff Gottesfeld and Matt Tavares

Honor Flight by Jeff Gottesfeld and Matt Tavares honors our aging military veterans by escorting them to Washington, D.C. for a day of honor and celebration of their service.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming November 2026)

December- New York

Selected Book: Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares

New York City during the holidays is pretty magical. And, Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares captures that feel with a gorgeously illustrated and sweet story about two cardinals finding each other after a separation.

Family Dinner Book Club Resources (Coming December 2026)

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 2026. 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.

Get the 2026 Family Dinner Book Club Resource Pack

The printable resource packet includes the following resources for each month:

• A Map of the USA
• Book Synopsis
• Themed Menu with Links to Recipes
• Conversation Starters
• Pit Stop Book Activity Idea
• Pit Stop Snack Idea
• Printable Additional Reading Themed Book List

The resource pack is wonderful for people who just want to do Family Dinner Book Club, the Pit Stop version, or both!  There is no need to wait and check in for Family Dinner Book Club resources each month.  You can access EVERYTHING now with this option, plus get the bonus Pit Stop activity and snack idea and the themed book list.

And, this year I’m offering the resource pack as a “pay what you can” option.  The suggested price is $7, but you can change the price in the cart to reflect what is feasible for you in this season.—> Get the 90 page 2026 Family Dinner Book Club Resource Packet