Food is one of our basic needs yet many children and families around the world don’t have access to the food they need for survival. Explore the problem and solution while reading these children’s books about hunger.
You can even extend the discussion about clothing during a Family Dinner Book Club. See how-to below.
Books About Hunger for Children
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[easyazon_link identifier=”1936261294″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Maddi’s Fridge[/easyazon_link] by Lois Brandt is about two friends one of which has very little in her fridge. But, friends always help their friends and Sofia is determined to help fill Maddi’s fridge.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”0688152856″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen[/easyazon_link] by Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan is a great pick for introducing children to how a soup kitchen works and who it serves.
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Helping children understand “tight times” is illustrated in [easyazon_link identifier=”0140504427″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Tight Times[/easyazon_link] by Barbara Shook Hazen. When money is tight choices have to be made to purchase less expensive foods and foods that will stretch. For example, bulk cereal vs individual little boxes might be a choice during tight times.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”1554534887″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough[/easyazon_link] by Katie Smith Milway is set in Honduras and is based on the true story of families living in the country and Don Elias Sanchez who worked to help families deal with food insecurity in the country. Sanchez helped families learn about farming techniques and increase their food production. There is lots of back matter about tending our global garden, hunger around the world and what people are doing to help.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”1416935053″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Mama Miti[/easyazon_link]by Donna Jo Napoli is based on the work of Wangari Muta Maathai who was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. This amazing woman worked to pull together people in the country of Kenya together planting one tree at a time for food, shelter, and a better sustainable life.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”0871782294″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Faith the Cow[/easyazon_link] by Susan Bame Hoover is the story of how the Heifer Project came into existence with the idea of one person to give a cow to a country where the cows had been killed during the war. The idea grew to something much larger that still provides to animals for food across the world.
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I have been wanting to plant a garden and donate the food for some time. I was even more inspired after reading[easyazon_link identifier=”1611175046″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Katie’s Cabbage[/easyazon_link] by Katie Stagliano. One girl donates her very large cabbage she planted as a school project to families in need. Her family was then inspired to expand their growing gift efforts. The book is based on a true story.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”1554530288″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]One Hen[/easyazon_link] by Katie Smith Milway is the story of how one idea to raise money for food grew into a huge food resource. Change happens one idea at a time by one person at a time. I loved the resourcefulness and determination showcased throughout the story.
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We don’t always know the reasons why someone makes the choices she/he makes. That is just the message that is shared in [easyazon_link identifier=”0884483118″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Lunch Thief[/easyazon_link]by Anne C. Bromley. A boy is taking lunches from students at school. One student decides to look deeper at the reason behind the thefts and learns that the thief is the victim of a recent wildfire. He puts a plan in action to help.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”1438050194″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Poverty and Hunger[/easyazon_link]by Louise Spilsbury is an informational book about the many questions children have about poverty and hunger from Who is poor and hungry? to Why are people poor and hungry?
Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neil is the story of a young girl and her mother who get food from a food pantry and all the feelings around that from feeling embarassed to feeling grateful.
Get the Printable Book List and Conversation Starters
Grab the printable book list that you can take to the library or share with other families. You also get six conversation starters to spark discussion on the topic.
Just click the button below.
Create a Family Dinner Book Club Featuring Clothing
What is a Family Dinner Book Club?
Each month:
- On the first of each month, we provide all the details for your dinner.
- Sarah from Chef Sarah Elizabeth shares a themed menu to compliment the theme for the month.
- Laura from Sunny Day Family shares an activity that relates to the theme.
- And, I share a book list that compliments the themes, conversation starters, and a family service project.
Books and Conversation Starters
For our theme of HUNGER, you have found the book list and discussion starters on this page. (see above)
Themed Menu
Check out the themed menu you can eat with your family from Chef Sarah Elizabeth. —>Get the Menu
Book Related Activity
And, visit Sunny Day Family for an activity to do with the theme.—>Ways to Fight Hunger in the Community
Family Service Project
There are so many ways to help people who are in need of food. Try one of these ideas this month with your family.
- Donate food to a food pantry.
- Grow a garden and donate the fresh produce.
- Volunteer to work at a local shelter or food pantry.
- Organize a can food drive.
For more lessons on hunger and food insecurity, check out the resources from Kid World Citizen.
This Family Dinner Book Club can just be the first of many. Join us in a year-long focus of kids making a difference in the world.—>See All The Kids Making a Difference in the World Family Dinner Book Clubs
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