Books for Children About Nutrition

What Food Is This?
by Rosmarie Hausherr (ages 4-8)
This book is a winner for children because of the beautiful photography and its riddles, such as “What food grows without seeing the sun?”

Dinosaurs Alive and Well! A Guide to Good Health
by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown (ages 4-8)
Humorous dinosaurs make learning about nutrition, sanitation, the importance of physical activity, and how to handle stress interesting for kids. 

The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day
by Loreen Leedy (ages 4-8)
Revised to match the 2005 food pyramid, this book offers useful information about food groups and physical activity, even emphasizing the importance of consuming whole grains.

Blue’s Snack Party
by Sarah Landy and illustrated by Kevin Cardinali (ages 4-8)
This fun book details Blue and his friends preparing for a party. By lifting flaps on each page, a child can learn what ingredients are used to produce individual dishes. By solving Blue’s Clues throughout the book, children are encouraged to guess what healthy snack Blue will take to the party.

Grandpa’s Garden Lunch
by Judith Caseley (baby-preschool)
Sarah and her grandfather work in his garden to grow and harvest vegetables, flowers, and herbs. After all of their hard work, Sarah and her grandparents enjoy a lunch prepared from the garden’s vegetables.

This Is the Way We Eat Our Lunch: A Book About Children Around the World
by Edith Baer and Steve Bjorkman (ages 4-8)
Children are introduced to different foods from around the world in this delightful rhyming book. The food facts, recipes, and a map that highlights the locations mentioned teaches children about the foods that they and others eat and enjoy.

The Adventures of Tommy the Tomato
by Jay Holt (ages 5-10)
Tommy, who does not always have such a great diet before his big adventures, meets other foods that explain to Tommy why they are important to his health. For example, when Tommy has leg cramps in gym class, Barry the Banana recommends bananas for what else, potassium of course.

D.W. The Picky Eater
by Marc Brown (ages 4-8)
D.W. is a very picky eater, and her parents have finally had enough. After D.W. throws a fit in a restaurant because she does not want to try her spinach, her parents decide they will hire a babysitter for her when they go out to eat. When her grandmother is going to have a party at a fancy restaurant, D.W. asks to go and then surprises everyone, including herself, by eating the potpie that she orders. Guess what the main ingredient of the potpie is? You guessed it—spinach. The illustration that captures the expression of D.W.’s face when she discovers this is hilarious.

Review Date 12/09
K-0616