Best Food Books for Storytime (Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade)

Looking for food-themed books that keep preschool and early elementary groups engaged during storytime? Check these out!

Thank You, Omu! (2018)

By Oge Mora · Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
A modern classic, this gorgeous book is perfect for food, community, kindness, and generosity themes. I like to have students sign “thank you” as we say the repeated phrase, “Thank You, Omu!” We also pantomime stirring the soup, spooning it out, and eating it - as well as knocking on the door. There are also good opportunities for characterization and predicting who will be at Omu’s door.

Little Pea (2005)

By Amy Krouse Rosenthal · Illustrated by Jen Corace · Published by Chronicle Books
This was a favorite among my kindergartners when I was student teaching, and it was also the story that helped me get my first job as a library storyteller! The hook of the story is absolutely brilliant, and always a winner. Little Pea HAS to eat candy?! His disgust is quite entertaining to children, plus there are opportunities for them to share what they know about numbers, meals, and the days of the week.

Is That Wise, Pig? (2016)

By Jan Thomas · Published by Beach Lane Books
Another winner from Jan Thomas! Mouse is making a pot of soup and Cow helps by adding ingredients like carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes - but Pig adds…golashes? Also a great counting book, this one will have children counting and laughing, and just WAIT for the twist at the end!

Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party (2019)

By Kimberly and James Dean · Published by HarperCollins
A perfect pizza party indeed! Chantable, with repeatable phrases, Pete’s signature catchy, laid-back mantras, and loads of alliteration (perfect for the letter “P”) this book will have the group very engaged, and ready to talk about their favorite toppings!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969)

By Eric Carle · Published by World of Eric Carle
Perhaps the most well-known children’s book of all time, this one is a great choice for food-themed units. It’s a classic for many reason, and there are so many fun ways to tell it as well as read it aloud! I considered putting a lesser-known book on the list, but not everyone thinks of this title when thinking about food books!

The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round (2021)

By Wendy Wan-Long Shang · Illustrated by Lorian Tu · Published by Orchard Books/Scholastic
Sing along to this delicious twist on “The Wheels on the Bus” and celebrate the food, laughter, and love of a multigenerational family meal! With rhythmic, chantable text and warm, lively illustrations, this read-aloud is packed with opportunities for parallel play, sound making, and pantomime. Great for food or family themes.

Lolo and Birdie: I’m Hungry! / ¡Tengo hambre! (2022)

By Angela Dominguez · Published as a Spanish–English Bilingual Picture Book
A sweet and silly bilingual read-aloud featuring a chatty bluebird and an indecisive T. Rex who just can’t decide what his next meal should be! This story introduces young listeners to basic Spanish and English food vocabulary while giving them lots to giggle about. When a bluebird finds a dinosaur feeling down, he gently asks what’s wrong — kicking off a funny, charming exchange perfect for dialogic reading and practicing simple bilingual phrases.