Book Finder

How many people actually know where chocolate comes from? How it’s made? Or that monkeys do their part to help this delicious sweet exist? Kids will learn that chocolate comes from cocoa beans, which grow on cocoa trees in tropical rain forests. But those trees couldn’t survive without the help of a menagerie of rain forest critters: a pollen-sucking midge, an aphid-munching anole lizard, brain-eating coffin fly maggots — they all pitch in to help the cocoa tree survive. Two wise-cracking bookworms appear on every page, adding humor and further commentary, making this book accessible to readers of different ages and reading levels.

From fried dumplings to fortune cookies, here are the tales behind your favorite American Chinese foods. Do you know the stories behind delectable dishes—like the fun connection between scallion pancakes and pizza? Or how dumplings cured a village’s frostbitten ears? Or how wonton soup tells about the creation of the world? Separated into courses like a Chinese menu, these tales — based in real history and folklore — are filled with squabbling dragons, magical fruits, and hungry monks. This book will bring you to far-off times and marvelous  places, all while making your mouth water. 

El Toro and his luchador buddies are short on money. It’s lunchtime and they’re hungry! How they earn it is revealed in frenetic illustrations and colorful language sprinkled with Spanish words. This latest addition to the series is every bit as much fun and sure to delight!

Spanish and English are both used to tell the story of a girl and her family making apple treats, following their tree from flower to fruit. Told in a familiar cadence, the poem embeds Spanish words seamlessly to accompany jaunty illustrations. A glossary of Spanish words used and an easy recipe for applesauce are included.

Bruno Builder can bake bread, write a story, heal animals and more just by flipping the bottom portion of each split page. Dora Dentist and Vic Veterinarian can do the same things when the top half is changed. Child-like illustrations in a playful format encourage exploration of words and jobs all while chuckling.

Clever soldiers outwit greedy townspeople with the creation of a special soup in this cherished classic. Three soldiers come marching down the road towards a French village. The peasants, seeing them coming, suddenly become very busy, for soldiers are often hungry. All their food is hidden under mattresses or in barns. Then follows a battle of wits, with the soldiers equal to the occasion. Why, of course—even with no food, they can still make a wonderful soup! All they will need is three round stones. But to make a truly perfect stone soup, they will of course also need a carrot or two…a cabbage…and so it goes.

This nonfiction book explains the origins of many foods, including chocolate, french fries, bread, and salt.

Every year, George and the man with the yellow hat attend a pancake breakfast to benefit the children’s hospital. Always curious, George finds his way to the pancake table and helps out. Pouring batter and flipping the pancakes over looks like fun! George decides to make some pancakes of his own, and after making and serving some of the most delicious pancakes the crowd has ever seen, George gets into even more monkey mischief. 

Take children on a trip to Paris with Suzette, the crêpe maker, and her artistic customers. As Suzette sells her delicacies over the course of a day, you will be treated to the sights and sounds of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, from Nôtre-Dame to the Eiffel Tower. Suzette’s customers along the way are inspired by works of art, such as da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Degas’s Little Dancer. Children will learn some key French words and phrases.

Explore the meals of 12 countries in this playful approach to the world! From Australia to India to the USA, come travel around the world at dawn. Children everywhere are waking up to breakfast. In Japan, students eat soured soybeans called natto. In Brazil, even kids drink coffee — with lots of milk! With rhythm and rhymes and bold, graphic art, this picture book invites young readers to explore the world through the most important meal of the day.

If you give a pig a pancake, she’ll want some syrup to go with it. You’ll give her some of your favorite maple syrup, and she’ll probably get all sticky, so she’ll want to take a bath. She’ll ask you for some bubbles. When you give her the bubbles … Fans of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will love this perfect addition to the series!

When three potato latkes escape Rachel Bloom’s frying pan on the first night of Hanukkah, everyone including the cantor, the rabbi, and the mayor joins in the chase.

When Hazel and her father bake together, her mother says they make the whole house smell like a fancy bakery. One day Hazel decides to organize a morning bake sale for her school and encourages her friends to contribute to the effort. The results take readers all over the world, from strawberry mochi and pumpkin empanadas to Indian-spiced shortbread and Egyptian basbousa cake. 

Discover the inspiring story of Augustus Jackson, an African American entrepreneur who is known as “the father of ice cream.” After working in the White House as a cook, Gus headed back home to Philadelphia, and in 1830, he opened his very own ice cream parlor. He devised a way to keep the ice cream frozen so that it could be shipped and sold to other businesses. Back matter includesan afterword, a list of sources, and an easy-to-follow recipe so readers can make their own delicious ice cream!

Throughout history, artists have influenced other artists. From Michelangelo to Basquiat, the author/illustrator suggests how each artist might have uniquely presented an everyday subject — a donut. Open this informative book for a tasty look at different styles, techniques, and artists.

When squirrels Norma and Belly grow tired of acorns, they decide to try pizza from the new shop in town. As with their other food adventures (Donut Feed the Squirrels (opens in a new window) and Apple of My Pie (opens in a new window)), success is always questionable. Jaunty illustrations in a lively, easy graphic format make each escapade a tasty treat.

The young narrator thinks her life in Hong Kong in the alley of Tai Yuen Street is boring — until a stranger down-on-his luck helps her realize that she is indeed quite lucky. Readers will appreciate the gentle reminder that kindness is contagious, when after the girl gives the man her special mooncake, the entire community steps up to help the man. 

A Korean child declares, “I eat kimchi every day. I like kimchi every way!” in this lively look at the various ways kimchi is eaten each day of the week. Appealing illustrations and rich, descriptive language are rounded out by more information about kimchi. 

A joyful, expressive sing-along, slurping noodles, squishing tofu, and tapping chopsticks as a multigenerational family sings along to this familiar tune. Rhythmic text and vibrant, playful illustrations bring the story to life, and informative back matter includes a food glossary and etiquette guidelines that are sure to delight and engage young readers.

“A rooftop garden is what we need — Friends and family all agree.” So, the diverse residents of the apartment gather tools, seeds and begin! Lively, rhyming language combines with bright illustrations to present the activity. Information needed to grow a rooftop garden and music to sing the narrative conclude the book. Be sure to link to the QR code to hear a toe-tapping rendition of the song.

An’s grandmother’s memory is fading. Her grandfather thinks that a special fruit will help her remember. When the special gấc rice is made, An’s grandmother recalls their wedding wish — the title of the book. Lush illustrations tenderly depict the Vietnamese family and their love for each other. A recipe is included.

Count along with the families as they make dumplings from their own culture and share them as a community. The rhyming tale can be shared on several levels with children of various ages, from the youngest to cooks who want to try their hand at the recipes included.

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. 

Noodles are a universally loved food, from Ash Reshteh in Iran to Zaru Soba in Japan. In this board book shaped to mimic bowls, young children will discover 26 different varieties as they eat their way through the alphabet. With each new letter, a new dish is introduced identifying its country of origin and name written in both English and the country’s native language.