Now that the days are warmer, brighter, and longer, what better way to unwind from all that extended fun outdoors than with a few great books to keep your children’s imaginations and appetites going strong all summer long? Whether you read these books under a tree, in your vegetable patch, or at the park, remember, life does really imitate art so don’t forget to pack a healthy lunch and snacks for your voracious bookworms.
The Seven Silly Eaters
by Mary Ann Hoberman
Marla Frazee (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 40 pages
In this rhyming picture book, a family of picky eaters just about drives the mother (Mrs. Peters) over the edge as she tries to keep up with the rigid nutritional demands of her hungry and growing clan. Peter likes his milk a certain temperature, Jack only eats applesauce, Mary Lou likes “soft and squishy homemade bread,” and the twins want to eat different things. As Mrs. Peters desperately, but lovingly, tries to feed her picky eaters and keep up with her cello playing, chaos and clutter take over this happy house.
The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day
by Loreen Leedy
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Following the guidelines of the Food Guide Pyramid just became a whole lot easier with this fun and educational tale that breaks it all down for curious little minds. The head waiter at the Edible Pyramid restaurant, a French cat in tails, explains the dishes to his customers, stylish animals who also wear formal dining attire, to help them select a balanced meal. Small pyramids appear in the corner of each illustration to highlight the pyramid block being explained and the science behind recommended number of daily servings is also broken down.
Nature Discovery In My Backyard
by Rebecca Mattano
Reading level: Ages 2 to 5
Paperback: 16 pages
Since you’ll be spending most of your time outdoors, pick up this book for some excellent tips on nature discovery in your own backyard. The book follows a little girl who uses all of her senses to explore her yard. Packed with interesting facts about the environment, plants and animals, this book is sure to make your kids more environmentally aware. And, parents, rest assured that when you pick up this book, you’re going green for summer reading. The book is printed on post-consumer recycled paper.
Gregory, the Terrible Eater
by Mitchell Sharmat
Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey (Illustrators)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
If you have a picky eater, pick up this hilarious book for a little help in reverse psychology. Gregory is young goat and a very picky eater. He adamantly refuses to eat all of the usual goat diet staples such as shoes, tires, and tin cans and chooses, instead, to pig out on junk food, all the foods his parents don’t want him to eat such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, and orange juice. His parents try everything to get Gregory to stop eating junk food. They take him to the doctor and even let him stuff himself on junk food to the point of getting a belly ache.
Indigo Blume and the Garden City
by Kwame Alexander
Jah Sun (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages (includes four track CD with a read-a-long bonus track)
Indigo Blume is the kind of community activist you want your kids to be friends with for obvious reasons. Inspired by a contest to “go green”, she dreams up a plan to start a rooftop garden and actually makes her dream come true despite teasing from the uninformed neighbourhood kids.
Chaser
Parents, this one’s for you! Gwenyth Paltrow not only defrosts her Ice Princess image with her new cookbook, My Father’s Daughter, she also proves that she knows how to balance her career and her family life and still keep up her Academy Award-winning appearances in the kitchen.
