Need some help convincing your picky eater to try a few new things? Try sharing a well-written children’s book to introduce the topic in a fun way and help your child see that eating new foods can be fun. Here are a few to begin with:
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban.
Ages 3-8
This book was one of my favorites as a child! Frances loves bread and jam, and she wants it at every meal! However, she eventually grows sick of eating it day in and day out and decides she must try something new. This is a great story for little ones who have that “favorite food” they want to eat over and over, meal after meal!
D.W. the Picky Eater by Marc Brown
Ages 3-8
This is a great story featuring Arthur’s little sister, D.W. She’s a very picky eater, and throws a fit when her family wants her to eat a salad while dining at a restaurant. As a consequence, they tell her that she can not longer eat out with them until she’s ready to try new foods. Before long, the family is planning an evening out to celebrate Grandma Thora’s birthday. D.W. desperately wants to go, but will she decide to try new foods?
Gregory, The Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat
Ages 3-8
This is a charming story featuring Gregory, an unusual goat who prefers orange juice and eggs over his family’s typical goat food of shoes, striped ties, and tin cans! The bold, creative illustrations make this book a favorite!
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child
Ages 3-8
This wonderful book features Charlie and Lola, two popular characters your children may recognize from Playhouse Disney. When Lola rattles off her extensive list of despised foods, Charlie responds by redefining each item in a creative way. Carrots become "orange twiglets from Jupiter,” and peas become "green drops from Greenland." With Charlie’s help, trying new food becomes a fun experience for young Lola!
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace
Ages 3-8
This story is a great twist on the nightly conversation you can hear in households across America: “Just two more bites…” Here we have Little Pea, whose parents serve candy for dinner every night. Little Pea just can’t stand it! But he really wants his dessert, spinach, so he eventually acquiesces and eats the requisite five bites of candy. This fun and simple story illustrates the battle over food in a way that is fun and humorous for parents and children alike.
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