Bite by Bite

By Marc Aronson, Paul Freedman, Frederick Douglass Opie, Amanda Palacios, Tatum Willis, David Zheng, Toni D. Chambers (Illustrator)

Discover America's history through twelve iconic dishes, revealing the diverse cultures shaping its cuisine.

3.5/5 Goodreads · 129 ratings

164 pages

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Journey through America's history with twelve iconic dishes, from First Salmon Feasts to Cantonese delights. This illustrated exploration reveals how diverse cultures and traditions have shaped the nation's culinary identity. What stories do these meals tell about who we are and where we come from? Uncover the rich tapestry of American cuisine, bite by bite, and see how food connects us across time and place.

From the publisher

Explore the fascinating history of America as told through the lens of food in this illustrated nonfiction middle grade book that lays out the diverse cultures that have combined to create the rich and delicious tapestry of the American country and cuisine. As American as apple pie. It’s a familiar saying, yet gumbo and chop suey are also American! What we eat tells us who we are: where we’re from, how we move from place to place, and how we express our cultures and living traditions. In twelve dishes that take readers from thousands of years ago through today, this book explores the diverse peoples and foodways that make up the United States. From First Salmon Feasts of the Umatilla and Cayuse tribes in the Pacific Northwest to fish fries celebrated by formerly enslaved African Americans, from “red sauce” Italian restaurants popular with young bohemians in the East to Cantonese restaurants enjoyed by rebellious young eaters in the West, this is the true story of the many Americas–laid out bite by bite.

At a glance