The Reading Nest - Book List

Bee-bim Bop - by Linda Sue Park

Bee-bim Bop is a traditional Korean dish of rice and egg, and meat that mama’s helper helps to prepare - we follow along from store to table through fun illustrations that are full of anticipation and joy.

Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food - This story follows Papa, Brother, and Sister who are eating too much junk food. Mama and Dr. Grizzly attempt to help them understand the importance of nutritious foods and exercise. For kids 2-7

Blueberries For Sal - by Robert McKlosky - A classic children’s story of discovery, and adventure.

Carrot Seed - by Ruth Krauss

This story is about caring for a plant - It is also about standing one’s ground, intuitive knowledge and the results of nurturing hope. All this grows from one little planted seed.

Dragons Love Tacos - by Adam Rubin

A silly romp with fire breathing, taco eating dragons!

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert - a picture book, foods that are associated with each letter. There is a glossary at the end with food facts. For kids ages 2-3 years old.

The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons - Gail writes: Whether fresh, cooked, dried, canned, or frozen…fruits are delicious and nutritious! A good message to share with everyone. Gibbons shows how different types of fruits are grown in different climates. The book contains information about growing, processing, and preparing fruit in a clear, understandable way.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss - The classic children’s story on overcoming food objections.

Gregory the Terrible Eater – Gregory is a goat that would not eat anything but fruits, vegetables, bread, and butter. This disappointed his parents because they wished he would eat tires, shoelaces, tin cans, and cardboard! This silly role reversal book will have children and parents giggling.

Growing Vegetable Soup - by Lois Ehlert

A classic

Good Enough to Eat - by Lizzy Rockwell

How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? The Story of Food- by Chris Butterworth

A part of making healthy food choices is understanding where food comes from. This book does that in a colorful fun way. By exploring the journey of how food gets into a lunchbox children will learn the process - i.e. From planting wheat to mixing dough, climbing trees to machine-squeezing fruit - we follow the steps involved in producing some common foods. Includes health tips and a basic food group list.

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola) - by Lauren Child

Lola won’t eat healthy foods until her brother creatively renames them, calling carrots Orange Twiglets from Jupiter, and mashed potatoes Pointy Peaks of Mount Fugi. Children can come up with their own creative fun names for foods.

Jamberry - by Bruce Degen

In this classic children’s book bear and a boy seek berries high and low, and everywhere they go.

As an activity make a batch of Strawberry Freezer Jam. (See recipe in Activities Section)

Nutrition Fun with Brocc and Roll by 24 Carrot Press. An humorous activity book - great for parents to teach nutrition concepts to their children. The main characters are Brocc, Roll, and Hugh-Man Bean.

Oliver’s Fruit Salad and Oliver’s Vegetables - by Vivian French

These are two reluctant eater stories - Oliver visits Grandpa and Grandma’s farm where he must eat his veggie and search for the potatoes that become French fries, in Oliver’s vegetables our main character prizes fresh fruit like what he experienced on his Grandparents.

Pumpkin Soup - by Helen Cooper

In this story three friends make their yummy pumpkin soup. Each has their role, and when those roles change the friendship is harmed - the pumpkin soup is not so yummy. A beautifully illustrated story of cooperation, differences and resolving conflicts while sharing food. (4 - 8 yrs)

Rah! Rah! Radishes and Go! Go! Grapes - by April Pulley Sayre

These rhyming rhythmic texts (long chants, really) are accompanied by enticing images of food as art - smell, shape, color, texture are depicted - the images also send a subtle message to support local farmers and businesses.

To Market, To Market - by Nikki McClure

We follow a mother and son on their weekly market trip. As they check off items on their shopping list, we learn how that food is grown from start to ending up at the market weaving story and fact in this picture book.

The Vegetables We Eat or the Fruits We Eat - by Gail Gibbons- this book describes, explains, and features Veggies. Gail explores vegetables from the parts of the plant to veggies we see on the table and all the varieties available today. Gail explains: Leaf . . . root . . . stem . . . These are three of the eight groups of vegetables. From how they are planted to how they get to stores, here is a wealth of information about them, including how to plant and tend your own vegetable garden.

We Are What We Eat – by Kristy Hammil - This rhyming book uses funny talking food characters to teach healthy concepts. According to the description, “Your kids will start to recognize the difference between foods that are nourishing to their bodies and foods that aren’t." For kids 2-10 years old.