Picture Book Recommendations for Foodies!

As Frances helps her grandmother with New Year's Day dinner, Grandma teachers her the orgins of the different dishes and soul food they prepare together. Includes a recipe for Fay's Fabulous Pralines.

Every Friday Musa's family takes turns picking out a Jummah treat which they use to try all different foods, but when it is Musa's turn he sticks to his favorite halal hot dogs to share.

"A young girl's weekend visit to her tía's neighborhood teaches her the importance of community--and of empanadas"-- Provided by publisher.

Granny teaches her young grandson how to cook the family meal, in this celebration of food, traditions, and gathering together at the table. Includes recipe for baked macaroni and cheese.

Inspired by the rich tradition of African American reunions, a multigenerational story follows the experiences of young Ruby, who helps loved ones prepare the foods they are bringing while trying to think of a signature dish of her own.

Once upon a time, in the middle of a group of seven thousand happy islands named after King Philip of Spain, there lived a lady named Doña Esmeralda. She had a big bouffant hairdo and was much smaller than you. And she was always hungry... And so begins the wickedly hilarious tale of one very old, but very stylish little lady who loves to eat, but can only find the ooey, gooey, mushy, smelly leftovers of naughty children to nosh on. But what happens when Doña Esmeralda finds out about all the tasty treats that children do eat? Hold on to your hairdos as Esmeralda eats everything in sight in a cumulative read-aloud inspired by stories from author Melissa de la Cruz's childhood in the Philipines!

"Follow along with our narrator as he passes through his busy neighborhood in search of the Paletero Man. But when he finally catches up with him, our narrator's pockets are empty. Oh no! What happened to his dinero? It will take the help of the entire community to get the tasty treat now"--Provided by publisher.

"The year has just begun. But even in January, with the snow still falling, a little girl is already imagining the great big vegetable garden of her dreams. Month by month, this little gardener describes all the different stages of her garden, and the hard work and careful planning that must go into it before she can reap the juicy rewards. In January, she dreams about the day that the first shoots will push through the surface of the soil. In February, she draws up her garden plans on grid paper, deciding where all the different fruits and vegetables will go. In March, she sows tiny seeds in egg shells; in April she sees the first leaves of her tiny seedlings; and in May, it's finally time for planting outside. In June, she inspects her garden carefully every day, waiting patiently for July--her favourite month of all--when the harvest begins! In October and November, after the leaves fall and the first snow has settled, the garden is once again at rest. And in December, all those summer treasures are arranged on a festive table, and the little gardener gathers with loved ones in a celebration over a table of home grown food."-- Provided by publisher.

Each year on Christmas Eve, Rosie's abuela teaches her not only how to make a delicious tamale, but how to make a delicious life--one filled with love, plenty of spice, and family.

Anita helps her grandmother make flan for her grandfather's birthday.

"Frankie the Flamingo loves food but she's tired of eating the same thing day after day: shrimp. So Frankie decides to expand her palate by trying exciting new foods--with some colorful consequences! But as Frankie's food world expands, her friends can't quite seem to understand what's gotten into her. Until they spy on Frankie cooking up something special and decide that they, too, might want to go on a food adventure of their own"-- Provided by publisher.

Lili loves to cook little dumplings called baos with her grandmother, but when cabbage is needed, Lili races up and down the stairs of her grandmother's apartment building to find the ingredient and help the other grandmothers borrow ingredients for different dumplings, from Jamaican meat patties and Italian ravioli to Lebanese fatayer and more.

"Explore the different ways to eat kimchi in this fun, rhyming tale that also teaches the days of the week. Korean-American author-illustrator Erica Kim shares her pride in her delicious cultural food through her cut paper art technique. The Hanji paper that is used to illustrate the book comes from a paper mulberry tree native to Korea."-- Amazon.

As Neela and her mother cook together, they find a way for Neela's grandmother, who lives in India, to share in both the love and the flavors of the day. Includes tomato facts and two recipes.

When Coco the chipmunk, who always shares her food, falls ill, her new friends come to care for her in the same way she taught them, in this heartwarming debut picture book inspired by a Korean greeting.

Even though Zia loves the Cantonese food her parents prepare at home, she is embarrassed to eat it at school, but when she realizes each meal has a special meaning, she begins to look forward to lunchtime. Includes a recipe for Zia's lucky yi mein.

"Parents can be so frustrating! All these kids want is for their ice-cream-and-chips-loving parents to try one bite of healthy whole foods. They're sure their parents will like fruits and veggies if they'll just taste them! Instead, their parents make dramatic barfing sounds, cover their mouths with their hands, and sneak the veggies to the dog. Is there anything that can convince these picky parents to try something green?... Adam Mansbach and Camila Alves McConaughey... have written a hilarious rhyming role reversal that's sure to delight even the pickiest of readers and eaters." -- Front book jacket flap.

When a blizzard leaves a family housebound one Hanukkah, they share what little food they have with some starving animals who later return the favor.

"The café across the street from Anni’s home in Little India makes the best biryani in the world. Fluffy and fragrant, spicy and succulent, Anni could eat it every day. In fact, Anni loves that biryani so much that she’s determined to uncover the secret to the recipe. She has so many questions for Uncle, the grumpy chef and owner of the café. But he isn’t providing any easy clues. So, with some careful planning, Anni sets out on a mission to find out the secret ingredients to this most special dish. Will Anni get the answers she’s looking for ... before it’s too late?"--Dust jacket.

"Yesenia introduces readers to her favorite food--plátanos--which go with everything, especially love, in this ode to the star of Dominican cuisine"-- Provided by publisher.

Bubbie and Rivka's new Friday tradition is to bake a loaf challah, and while each week presents a new challenge, they learn that practice makes progress and persistence makes for some very special together time and delicious bread.

A little girl is determined to make perfect nigiri sushi for her grandmother, but her efforts only lead to frustration, until a surprising discovery helps her understand that cooking with love is more important than cooking perfect food.

"Shelly-Ann lives with her Granny on the beautiful island of Jamaica. When Shelly-Ann becomes hungry, she asks her Granny for something to eat. Granny tells her 'Gyal, you betta can cook!' and teaches Shelly-Ann how to get in touch with her Jamaican roots through the process of cooking. As Shelly-Ann tries each recipe, everything goes wrong. But when Granny is too tired to cook one morning, Shelly-Ann will have to find the courage to try one more time and prepare the perfect Jamaican breakfast"-- Provided by publisher.

"Julie loves all kinds of fruit, but mangoes are her absolute favorite. One sticky summer afternoon, Julie goes to the big mango tree in her yard to ask for a snack. But no matter how nicely she asks or how patient she tries to be, the tree just won't drop a single sweet, juicy mango! Will Julie ever be able to convince the tree to let her have just a taste of her favorite treat?"-- Provided by publisher.

"A young boy aspires to make a bowl of ramen as delicious as his dad's, and runs into some surprises--both delightful and disastrous--on his first attempt"-- Provided by publisher.

"Tomorrow is Kalamata's first day at a new school, and she's nervous! If only Kalamata and Al Dente could go to back to the Indian spice market they visited this summer, then maybe she'd remember how to feel brave when new experiences seem scary. Luckily for Kalamata, all the magic required for her journey is right in her own kitchen! As Kalamata and her alligator friend, Al Dente, transport themselves to a magical land filled with tasty ingredients, she realizes being brave is exciting!"-- Provided by publisher.

"Though they may speak different languages, kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea in this delicious book for young readers. When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can't speak English, neither can anyone else. That's when she has a brilliant idea to host a tea party and bring them all together. Luli removes her teapot, thermos, and teacups from her bag and calls out "Chá!" in her native Chinese. One by one, her classmates pipe up in recognition: in Russian, Hindi, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili. Tea is a tasty language they all know well, and it gives them a chance to share and enjoy each other's company. When all the tea is gone and it's time for dessert, Luli gets to use her favorite English word, cookie! After that, the playroom isn't so quiet."-- Amazon.

Lintang is determined to embrace the spice of sambal in order to connect with her Indonesian grandmother and heritage.

"Even from Ramen's small shelf in the supermarket, they see spaghetti propaganda everywhere. They want to be celebrated, too. Maybe, Ramen misguidedly thinks, I have to change to be loved like that. "I want to be spaghetti!" they proclaim to the dismay of the rest of the instant noodle section"-- Provided by publisher.

"Lin makes tofu with her grandma and discovers that patience brings a whole universe together in a simple dish made by a modern Chinese American family"-- Provided by publisher.