Food plays a central role in these delectable picture books, all of which come ready-made with a hands-on, taste bud–pleasing activity that expands the literary experience. Exploring various countries and cultures, dabbling in history, emphasizing the warmth of family relationships, and conveying the universal enjoyment of preparing and sharing edibles, these offerings are perfect for storytime, classroom use, or one-to-one sharing. Parents and educators can use recipes, which must be carefully decoded and require repeated readings, to provide a unique instructional opportunity for children learning to read (proof of careful deciphering will be in the pudding!). From hardy soups to delish desserts, this list highlights newer offerings along with several scrumptious older titles.
Baking Day at Grandma’s. by Anika Denise. illus. by Christopher Denise. Philomel. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399242441.
PreS-Gr 1–Three effervescent bear cubs bundle up and journey through a wintry landscape to Grandma’s cozy cottage for a day spent making treats, sipping hot cocoa, and sharing hugs. Ebullient rhyming verses and light-infused illustrations strike a harmonious note between old-fashioned charm and cartoon quirkiness. At the end of this memorable day, “Grandma Rosie’s Chocolate Cake” is frosted, cut into squares, and tenderly packaged for distribution to loved ones.
Cora Cooks Pancit. by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore. illus. by Kristi Valiant. Lee & Low/Shen’s Bks. 2009. Tr
$17.95. ISBN 9781885008350; pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781885008480.
PreS-Gr 3– Cora, the youngest in a Filipino family that loves to cook together, is always left with “kid jobs like drawing pictures in the flour or licking spoons.” One day when her older siblings are all out, Mama asks her what she would like to make, and the two spend a special time preparing noodles and vegetables while sharing family stories (they follow her grandfather’s recipe—Lolo’s Pancit). The well-written text and lush-hued artwork depict details specific to Cora’s family, while conveying emotions and experiences that are universal.
A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat. by Emily Jenkins. illus. by Sophie Blackall. Random/ Schwartz & Wade. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780375868320; PLB $20.99. ISBN 9780375968327; ebook $10.99. ISBN 9780375987717.
Gr 1-3–From a mother and daughter picking wild blackberries and hand-whipping cream in England in 1710, to a boy and his dad purchasing and preparing ingredients in San Diego in 2010, four vignettes depict how families living during different historical periods make—and savor—the same dessert. Eloquent text and enchanting artwork convey details of the changing times, cooking methods and apparatus, food sourcing, and societal standards, while paralleling the enduring pleasure of making food together and licking the bowl clean. Delicious for family sharing and to initiate discussion of social history.
Gazpacho for Nacho. by Tracey Kyle. illus. by Carolina Farías. Amazon/Two Lions. 2014. Tr $16.99. 
ISBN 9781477817278.
K-Gr 3–Repeatedly refusing to taste any of the tempting dishes his mother places before him, Nacho is one “picky muchacho” who demands gazpacho morning, noon, and night. However, when Mami takes the boy to the market, the array of mouth-watering vegetables inspires Nacho to don a chef’s sombrero, chop and mix the legumbres, and begin to dream of other tasty meals. Bouncy verses smoothly incorporate Spanish words (glossary and recipe appended) into an entertaining text, and earth-toned paintings blend realistic scenes with fantastical moments.
Gingerbread for Liberty!: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution. by Mara Rockliff. illus. by Vincent X. Kirsch. HMH. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780544130012; ebook $17.99. ISBN 9780544465664.
Gr 1-4–Well-known in Philadelphia for his “honest face,” “booming laugh,” and the best gingerbread “in all the thirteen colonies,” a German-born immigrant answered his adopted country’s call to arms with sleeves rolled up and ovens fired, baking bread to fill the empty bellies of the Continental Army and sneaking into enemy territory to sway the hearts of Hessian mercenaries. This biographical confection whips together vivacious storytelling, frothy humor, historical fact, and icing-edged artwork to introduce Christopher Ludwick (and his most tasty wares).
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas. by Natasha Yim. illus. by Grace Zong. Charlesbridge. 2014. Tr 
$16.95. ISBN 9781580896528.
K-Gr 4–It’s Chinese New Year, and Goldy is sent by her mother to the Chan’s apartment with a plate of turnip cakes and Kung Hei Fat Choi wishes. No one is there, and the girl hesitantly pushes the door open, spilling the treats everywhere. One thing leads to another until the panda family arrives home to discover everything in disarray and the girl fast asleep on Little Chan’s futon. When Goldy returns to make amends—and a fresh batch of turnip cakes (recipe appended)—a friendship is forged. The playful text and acrylic artwork of this “Goldilocks” variation are packed with details of Chinese-American culture and plenty of fun.
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. by Marjorie Priceman. illus. by author. Knopf. 1994. pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780679880837; ebook $7.99. ISBN 9780307793126.
Gr 1-3–Finding the market closed, a young girl travels the globe to obtain the ingredients for a mouthwatering dessert—taking a steamship to Italy for semolina wheat, boarding a train to France for a chicken to lay fresh eggs, sailing to Sri Lanka to get kurundu bark for cinnamon, and so on, finally parachuting into Vermont for just-picked apples before returning home to mill, grind, slice, bake, and serve. Priceman’s whimsical artwork and humor-warmed narrative make a satisfying combo. Serve along with How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A. (Knopf, 2008).
Mama Panya’s Pancakes: A Village Tale from Kenya. by Mary & Rich Chamberlin. illus. by Julia Cairns. Barefoot Books. 2005. pap. $7.99. ISBN 9781905236640.
K-Gr 4–Adika’s mother has just enough money to purchase the ingredients for yummy pancakes for their dinner. As they walk to the market, the enthusiastic boy invites all of the friends and neighbors they meet to join them, and Mama Panya worries that there will not be enough to feed everyone—until the guests arrive bearing generous gifts and good cheer. Timeless themes, color-splashed folk-style artwork, and a repeated refrain (“a little bit and a little bit more”) make this enjoyable contemporary story as satisfyingly meaty as a folktale. Facts about village life in Kenya, local flora and fauna, and the Kiswahili language are appended.
My Grandfather’s Coat. retold by Jim Aylesworth. illus. by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic. 2014. Tr 
$17.99. ISBN 9780439925457.
PreS-Gr 3–Arriving in America “with little more than nothing at all,” a hardworking tailor stitches himself a “handsome coat” for his wedding day, a garment that he wears until threadbare and then re-sews repeatedly through the years into a “smart jacket,” “snazzy vest,” “stylish tie,” and so on, until nothing remains but a satisfying story for his granddaughter to read aloud to her young son. Spanning four generations, this warmhearted adaptation of a Yiddish folksong is illustrated with charming ink-and-watercolor paintings that detail family events and the changing times. Make this multigenerational reading experience all the sweeter by baking “Grandfather’s Coat Cookies” and nibbling them down to follow the narrative.
Rainbow Stew. by Cathryn Falwell. illus. by author. Lee & Low. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781600608476.
PreS-Gr 1–Scrambling out of bed on a gray day in July, three children and their grandpa don slickers and head outside to harvest a colorful array of vegetables from his garden (“Pull, pick,/gather quick”), work together to prepare the ingredients (“Peel, slice,/chop, and dice”), savor the simmering aroma (“Howl! Yowl!/Tummies growl”), and sit down to a fest of delicious—and healthful—Rainbow Stew (“Yum, yum, yum, yum!”). Depicting “purple cabbage,” “rosy radishes,” ruby-red tomatoes, and smiling children romping in the rain, the eye-dazzling collage artwork and simple text brim with family fondness.
Salsa: Un poema para cocinar/A Cooking Poem. by Jorge Argueta. tr. by Elisa Amado. illus. by 
Duncan Tonatiuh. Groundwood. 2015.Tr $18.95. ISBN 978155498442-8.
Gr 1-3–Grinding fresh ingredients in a volcanic stone molcajete just like those used by the Nahua, Aztec, and Maya people centuries ago, a brother and sister mix up a tasty topping for tortilla chips, tacos, and more while the whole family dances and sings (salsa of course!). Rhythm-filled bilingual verses intone the recipe as the children imagine that “chubby-cheeked red tomatoes,” tongue-flaming chili peppers, and spices become players in a sizzling “salsa orchestra.” Mixtec-inspired folk artwork in deep earth tones echo the poem’s exuberant rhythms and cultural connections while trumpeting fun and affection.
Whopper Cake. by Karma Wilson. illus. by Will Hillenbrand. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry. 2007. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780689838446.
PreS-Gr 3–It’s Grandma’s birthday, “and Granddad has an itchin’/to bake a whopper chocolate cake/and traumatize the kitchen.” His culinary masterpiece requires boatloads of ingredients, mixing in a pickup truck bed, outdoor baking in the blazing mid-July sun, and a crowd of decorators armed with shovel-loads of frosting. Uproarious rhyming verses blend with sparkling sherbet-hued artwork in this storytime treat (a family-size version of the recipe is appended).