Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

Photo Credit: Melissa from AnotherLunchBlog.com on a CC License

You don’t need to be a foodie to have fun with these words. Some books are just plain yummy and others inspire you to play with your food – even though your mama told you not to! Animate these recommended reads with tasty tie-ins:

Canada ABC by Paul Covello

Age Range: 0-4

• Grab the alphabet cookie cutters. Make melon shapes or bake ABC cookies to match the letters.
• Create your own alphabet book from grocery store flyer clippings, with a page for each letter and the related food.
• With the Canadian animals featured, you might ask, “What does a baby Blue Jay eat?”
• On the “C is for Canada” page, spot the sweet maple syrup and fresh Atlantic Lobster.

Rosario’s Fig Tree by Charis Wahl

Age Range: 0-5

• If figs aren’t common in your fruit bowl, pick some up from the grocery store. Try a fruit that you have never had.
• Where do figs originate? Neil Pasricha, awesome author and certified book lover, talks about one engaging way that his father introduced books. For example, “How amazing is it that a kiwi travelled all this way to our table? Let’s research where it came from.”
• Children ages 4-7 may enjoy Chris Van Allsburg’s The Sweetest Fig, which adds some magical realism to this tasty fruit.

The Biggest Poutine in the World by Andrée Poulin

Age Range: 9-11

• Food and tradition go hand-in-hand. Thomas’ mother sticks five candles in a poutine for his birthday because it’s his favourite food. Talk about the way your family celebrates with food.
• Thomas is trying to set a world record for the largest poutine. Find other food-related records in the Guinness World Books. Make it a game to find the most peculiar.
• Prepare poutine from scratch, or try one of the many restaurant variations available.   

You can connect practically any book to fun with food. Which title is to your personal taste?

Photo Credit: Melissa from AnotherLunchBlog.com on a CC License