This month's RTÉ KIDS Book Club, with thanks to Children's Books Ireland (CBI), has cooked up something special.
Here, CBI's Publications Manager Ruth Concannon gives us a gourmet selection of brilliant books.
Tasty snacks, tempting treats, belly-filling meals and mouthwatering feasts – sometimes all we can think about is food, glorious food! If you have an appetite for both books and food, you will love this month's RTÉ KIDS Book Club.
We have gathered some of our favourite books that focus on all things food to create a book club feast for the senses! From sustainable farming, learning to eat at the table, sharing recipes and even growing your own, there’s lots to explore when it comes to clever food writing for kids.
So, grab yourself a healthy snack, settle in, and get reading!
Toddler Talk: All Gone! by Carolina Búzio, Nosy Crow, 22PP, ISBN 9781805133391
Toddler Talk: All Gone! is mealtimes for toddlers and wobblers in a book! Everything a child experiences is named and shown from preparing the food to eating. All the eating experiences of little ones are portrayed with bright, colourful illustrations, with a vibrancy and positivity that highlights how mealtimes and eating are fun.
The positive portrayal of eating makes this a useful aid to encourage fussy eaters, or to introduce children to new food experiences such as cooking together. Mealtimes are a very important part of the day, so this is a book that will be re-read time and time again. (Age 0–2)
Zeki Eats Out by Anna McQuinn and illustrated by Ruth Hearson, Alanna Max, 24PP, ISBN 9781907825576
Zeki is getting ready to go out for lunch for the first time with Daddy and Nana G – and not forgetting Mr Seahorse, of course! Zeki knows exactly what to do and shows Mr Seahorse how to sit nicely and not play with his food.
Both Zeki and Mr Seahorse learn useful lessons to ensure the family can enjoy plenty of meals out together in the future. Together, McQuinn and Hearson form a partnership that produces more than the sum of its parts.
The amalgamation of the simple, happy storytelling in McQuinn's cheerful and clear vocabulary and Hearson’s brilliant illustrations with their expressive depictions of family life makes this a joy to read. (Age 0–2, 2–4)
A Taste of Home by Maryam Hassan and illustrated by Anna Wilson, Hodder Children's Books, 32PP, ISBN 9781444969375
Tariq is on a delicious quest to discover his favourite food, and with the help of his family, he learns what makes a simple snack so personal and special.
From eating paratha with parrots to concocting magic with his aunty while making saag paneer, slowly but surely Tariq learns that there's more to food than just taste – it’s about love, family and our memories too.
This book is a love letter to Indian food and Hassan showcases the important part food plays in both culture and connection. These tasty words are strengthened by the mouth-wateringly good illustrations by Wilson, who creates an air of warmth on each page. Together, just like a well-balanced recipe, Hassan and Wilson have created something truly special. (Age 2–4, 5–7)
Welcome to Our Table: A Celebration of What Children Eat Everywhere by Lauren Mucha and Ed Smith and illustrated by Harriet Lynas, Nosy Crow, 64PP ISBN 9781839945045
Feeling hungry? Prepare yourself for a smorgasbord of foods from around the world! This book links the familiar with the new. For example, if you enjoy pasta, then why not try Thai num banh chok? Or, if you love your spuds, then perhaps a purple yam will be next on your menu?
Understanding that favourite meal items like rice or corn have many common relatives, prepared in a similar way but with a different name, can help children to become brave with new foods.
This book brims with food facts and phrases aplenty, including how to say yummy in many languages, all with Lynas's brightly illustrated children in traditional dress telling us more about their local dishes. A feast for your taste buds! (Non-fiction, Age 5–7, 8–10)
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen and illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng, Barefoot Books, 40PP ISBN 9781646868407
This brightly coloured book invites the reader to explore twelve sustainable farms around the world. Expanding on the simple picturebook layout, the book goes into further detail on each farm asking bigger questions; How does it work? Why is it sustainable? Did you know? for each of the twelve farms.
This is an effective device to clearly deliver information about each farm and sustainable farming in general. A timely reminder that there are alternatives to large scale industrial agriculture and that there are sustainable solutions to food farming if we look for them.
The book also includes a glossary and a pronunciation guide for further learning. An inspiring read. (Non-fiction, Age 8–10)
Seed to Supper: The Journey of your Food from the Ground Up by Michelle Darmody and illustrated by Ruth Graham, Nine Bean Rows Books, 128PP ISBN 9781739210571
Michelle Darmody's fantastic book with colourful illustrations by Ruth Graham teaches us everything we need to know about food: starting with a seed in the ground and ending with recipes and discussion about eating as a communal experience.
This fun book is made up of short, easy to digest (yes, pun intended!) passages of information about food and the environment with plenty of eye-catching illustrations filled with fun visual jokes.
What makes this book really stand out though, is that it is packed full of simple and engaging activities and experiments around the various topics being discussed. Seed to Supper will inspire food enthusiasts of every age. (Non-fiction, Age 10–12)
If you are hungry for more content from Children's Books Ireland visit their official website here -www.childrensbooksireland.ie.
Ruth Concannon is the Publications Manager for Children's Books Ireland, the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading.
She says: "Our mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people on the island of Ireland, and to champion equitable access for all to excellent books. We share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence young readers and encourage schools and early childhood settings to build a positive culture of reading and reading aloud. We support and promote authors and illustrators and connect them with their audiences through our work."
