Looking to inspire young children to cook? Try getting that inspiration from books for kids! Every book on this list includes a recipe inside the book. Let’s get cooking and reading.
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Books About Food and Cooking for Children
If you love the story of The Little Red Hen, then you are sure to enjoy this version too. In Cook-A-Doodle-Doo, Rooster pulls out his Great Granny’s cookbook and finds a yummy recipe for strawberry shortcake. He then finds some friends- Turtle, Iguana and Potbellied Pig to help him create the dessert. Well, lots of mistakes and learning along the way finally result in a yummy strawberry delight.
The sidebars of the book include lots of useful cooking information for added discussion and learning. Cook-A-Doodle-Doo was one of our Family Dinner Book Club selections.
Recipe Included: Strawberry Shortcake
Bee Bim Bop by Linda Sue Park is one of our all-time favorite books to read-aloud. It’s the story of a family who is busy preparing a yummy Korean dinner of Bee Bim Bop. The book is full of rhyme and rhythm. The recipe that is included in the book is also a favorite too!
Recipe Included: Bee Bim Bop
Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco is the story of a young girl on a farm who is a bit scared about the approaching storm. The grandmother helps to distract the young girl by taking her to gather the ingredients needed to make a special cake. You won’t want to miss the secret ingredient in this cake!
Recipe Included: Thunder Cake
Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell is a beautiful multi-cultural title about a grandfather who takes his grandchildren out to the garden on a wet summer day to pick vegetables. The colorful bounty is turned into a wonderful stew.
Don’t miss other soup books and recipes that we have featured.
Recipe Included: Vegetable Stew
Logan’s Greenhouse by JaNay Brown-Wood is a great winter read. Logan is looking for carrots to prepare soup. Can you help him find them in the greenhouse? Look for three other books in this series covering the other seasons which also include seasonal recipes.
Recipe Included: Carrot Soup
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman is a journey across the world to collect the ingredients and tools needed to create a scrumptious pie. This is a perfect book for reading after an apple-picking trip.
Recipe Included: Apple Pie
For more read-alouds about apples, check out this list.—> Books About Apples
Extra Cheese, Please! by Cris Peterson is the journey of mozzarella cheese from cow to pizza. Of course, if you live in St. Louis the cheese of choice on pizza is provel! I like that this book includes photographs to help depict all the steps.
Recipe Included: Pizza
For more read alouds about pizza, check out this list.—> Books About Pizza
Jalapeno Bagels by Natasha Wing tells the story of a young boy who is trying to decide what to bring for International Day at school. He decides on an item that blends his father’s Jewish background with his mother’s Mexican background.
Recipe Included: Jalapeno Bagels
Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle is a perfect read for one of my favorite breakfast foods. There are lots of books about pancakes. That could be a whole book list on its own. But, I’m partial to Carle’s story.
Recipe Included: Pancakes
Crêpes by Suzette by Monica Wellington takes us through the streets of Paris observing all the sights and sounds.
Recipe Included: Crepes
Sweet Potato Pie by Kathleen Lindsay is the story of a family that problem solves during a drought. They save the only crop left- sweet potatoes and create pies for the Harvest celebration.
Recipe included: Sweet Potato Pie
[easyazon_link identifier=”1481467077″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Dumpling Dreams[/easyazon_link] by Carrie Clickard is the story of chef Joyce Chen. The book has lots of yummy recipe variations at the end.
Recipe included: Dumplings
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”1626720983″ locale=”US” src=”https://growingbookbybook.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/61ndjzyplL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”405″]
Usher in fall with [easyazon_link identifier=”1626720983″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Time for Cranberries[/easyazon_link] by Lisl H. Detlefsen which shows how cranberries are harvested.
Recipe included: Cranberry Sauce and Cranberry Pie
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”446″ identifier=”1534418105″ locale=”US” src=”https://growingbookbybook.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/51A2AG19uvL.jpg” tag=”groboobyboo-20″ width=”500″]
[easyazon_link identifier=”1534418105″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Bilal Cooks Daal[/easyazon_link] by Aisha Saeed shares the process of how daal is made.
Recipe included: Daal
Nacho’s Nachos by Sandra Nickel is the story of a man who invented one of our favorite snacks- nachos.
Recipe included: Nachos
Would you like to see me cook/bake some of these recipes? I’ve got a whole playlist for you to check out in my Cooking Book by Book series.—-> Cooking Book by Book
What is your favorite book about food?
Charissa says
My toddler and I are diving into cookjng right now, and we picked up every single one of these books from the library. They are exceptional. Thanks for your research!
Jodie Rodriguez says
I’m so glad they will be useful to you. Good luck on your cooking adventure!
Tina at Mommynificent says
When I saw your title, my first thought was Thunder Cake! I love that book! I’m excited to check out some other ones in this fantastic list now! Thanks for sharing this lovely list at Booknificent Thursday this week! Hope to see you again soon!
Tina
Laura Pol says
I’m definitely going to check these out! My son loves being a big helper and I’m sure he would love to help cook! I really like the Pancakes, Pancakes one! Thanks for sharing at Booknificent Thursday! 🙂
Rosemond Cates says
Such a great list, Jodie! We have been working on cooking lessons all summer, so this looks super fun! Thanks for sharing on the link up at mommynificent!
Rosemond
http://www.bighairandbooks.blogspot.com
Carol Archambeault says
Jodie,
I love this post and sharing on my social media today. Thanks so much for sharing! Reading really opens up the world to children, and I love that these books open the idea of getting in the kitchen too. Great selection with a lot of diversity.
Best wishes,
Carol
Abi Craig says
We love books too. Glad I saw this on GTTuesday since some of these titles are unfamiliar. We also like Growing Vegetable Soup and Everyone Eats Rice.
Julie says
I love the theme of your list, Jodie! Some favourites – Pancakes, Pancakes, Pancakes, and Thunder Cake, and some new ones for me. Thanks so much for sharing.
Cathryn Falwell says
I am so honored that “Rainbow Stew” is featured on your list! Wonderful to have my book among such delicious titles. Thank you!
Jodie Rodriguez says
Cathryn, I love, love, love your book! Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Susen says
Love this selection, pinned!
Cathy says
Jodie,
I love your list of titles. I can’t wait to check out Mei-Mei’s Lucky Birthday Noodles. I tried to reserve it from the library, but it’s not in their system yet. Thank you so much for sharing a collection to inspire cooking. I’m forwarding it to my niece and her mom. They love these kind of things! When she went to first grade the first thing she said to me was, “My classroom has cookbooks.”
Your collection caught my attention for it’s diversity. In a time where we continually talk about the need for more diverse literature, your collection lent itself to that nicely. I’m so excited to check this out!
Cathy
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thank you Cathy! And, thank you for organizing such a wonderful event. I look forward to it every year. Mei-Mei’s Lucky Birthday Noodles is scheduled to release in a few weeks. 🙂
Sandi says
Great choice for #PB10for10. I love cooking with my kindergarten kids – you list will be a great resource for reading-cooking-eating projects.
Jodie Rodriguez says
I hope you have lots of fun with the list Sandi!
Katie @ The Logonauts says
What a fun theme! Have you read the follow-up “How to Bake a Cherry Pie and See the USA?” Same idea, but US focused. I also recommend anything by Ying-Ching Compestine, as most of her picture books are food related and include recipes at the end. Runaway Wok is a favorite with my third graders. Thanks for sharing!
Jodie Rodriguez says
Katie, I like How to Bake a Cherry Pie and See the USA too! I’ll have to check out more of Ying-Ching Compestine’s books. Thanks for the recommendations.
Carol Wilcox says
At least five books on here I can’t wait to check out. Also several recipes- Bee Bim Bop, Birthday Noodles, and sweet potato pie that I want to try at home! Thank you!
Jodie Rodriguez says
I’m so glad you found some titles that you want to check out Carol!