26 Practical Kids Books About Picky Eating
Having a picky eater can be tricky, especially with so many opinions on how to approach it as a parent. We've gathered our favorite children's books to read with your picky eaters to help them realize that trying a new food might turn out in their favor. Whether your child just doesn't like broccoli, or they hate any food that doesn't start with the letter "P," we're positive you'll find some help and laughs through these fun reads!
Top 10 Picky-eating Books
This book is pretty well known at this point, and for good reason. The illustrations are charming and the story about Little Pea who REALLY doesn't want to eat his candy for dinner is remarkably clever. It's on the longer side in terms of amount of text for a board book but is absolutely worth it, and until your baby/younger toddler has a long enough attention span go for the paraphrasing the story as you go along because this is definitely one worth owning. By turning the classic childhood distaste for vegetables on it's head this book hits the perfect note of silly for a message that might actually sink in.
Ten years ago, Amy Krouse Rosenthal burst into children's books with Little Pea, a book destined to become a classic. Her witty text about a little pea who won't eat his sweets combined with the whimsical yet warm hearted art by Jen Corace create a go-to baby gift, a hilarious read-aloud, and the perfect intervention for picky eaters.
Seven fussy eaters find a way to surprise their mother.
Such a darling, fun book! Along with the fun of talking about Escargot and racing to the salad at the end of the book, this has a great message of trying something new (like carrots) that you don't think you'll like, but end up loving. Plus, you'll learn a little French vocabulary along the way!
Bonjour! Escargot is a beautiful French snail who wants only two things: 1. To be your favorite animal. 2. To get to the delicious salad at the end of the book. But when he gets to the salad, he discovers that there's a carrot in it. And Escargot hates carrots. But when he finally tries one—with a little help from you!—he discovers that it's not so bad after all! A charming and interactive picture book ideal for picky eaters and animal lovers alike.
This book is perfect for any picky eaters! When the chicks refuse to eat things, once they try a bite, they actually love it! I like the fun rhymes and that some of the words are playful like the way little ones talk (chocolate chippy and treaties). :)
Wash your wings, and take a seat. What will these tiny chickies eat? With the help of Cow, Pig, and Sheep, soon the chickies learn to cheep, "Pass the carrots. Pass the peas. Pass those yummy broccolis!" With engaging rhymes, endearing illustrations, and a soft padded cover, this book is perfect for babies and toddlers to enjoy, especially those picky chickies.
Gregory, the Terrible Eater, wants orange juice and eggs for breakfast. His parents are terribly upset! Why can't Gregory eat striped ties and violins, like the rest of the goats? Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey have entered into the spirit of Mitchell Sharmat's upside-down, turned-around world with bold, wacky, expressive illustrations. The trio's exuberant collaboration provokes healthy laughter and even includes a colorful chart which gives fresh meaning to the concept of "junk food."
D.W. is very picky about what she eats. She doesn't seem to like anything. Her dining out days with her family are cut short when she refuses to eat her salad and flings it to the floor. Will her table manners improve in time for her Grandma Thora's special dinner out? Text copyright 2004 Lectorum Publications, Inc.
This has always been a favorite of mine since I was a child, and it continues to be as I read it with my boys. The really fun thing is seeing my oldest (he is only in kindergarten) as he tries to read it to his little brother before bed. The rhymes are really something else. They are so fun and silly. We have loved this book during the St. Patrick's Day holiday with the green eggs but just as well as every other day of the year. We often bring up this story at meal times as well. When our boys don't want to try a new dish, we will quote this story and it brings a smile to their face and a brave bone in their body to help them give it a try.
Sam-I-Am tries to persuade his friend to try green eggs and ham.
We are big fans of Ciara Gavin and her characters and stories. We love that Bear Likes Jam is based on her own experiences as a mother trying to help her picky eater (and eating maybe a bit too much jam herself)! It's a fun, inventive story and a great way to help tackle the topic of picky eating habits with a young reader.
In their blended family, Mama Duck worries when Bear eats too much jam, but when the ducklings play a game with their vegetables, Bear starts to eat the strange green things on his plate.
Lola is a fussy eater. A very fussy eater. She won’t eat her carrots (until her brother Charlie reveals that they’re orange twiglets from Jupiter). She won’t eat her mashed potatoes (until Charlie explains that they’re cloud fluff from the pointiest peak of Mount Fuji). There are many things Lola won’t eat, including - and especially - tomatoes. Or will she? Two endearing siblings star in a witty story about the triumph of imagination over proclivity.
How does a dinosaur eat all his food? Does he burp, does he belch, or make noises quite rude? Does he pick at his cereal, throw down his cup, hoping to make someone else pick it up? Just like kids, dinosaurs have a difficult time learning to behave at the table. However, with a little help from Mom and Dad, these young dinosaurs eat all before them with smiles and goodwill.
Books About Food & Picky-eating
This book is pretty well known at this point, and for good reason. The illustrations are charming and the story about Little Pea who REALLY doesn't want to eat his candy for dinner is remarkably clever. It's on the longer side in terms of amount of text for a board book but is absolutely worth it, and until your baby/younger toddler has a long enough attention span go for the paraphrasing the story as you go along because this is definitely one worth owning. By turning the classic childhood distaste for vegetables on it's head this book hits the perfect note of silly for a message that might actually sink in.
Ten years ago, Amy Krouse Rosenthal burst into children's books with Little Pea, a book destined to become a classic. Her witty text about a little pea who won't eat his sweets combined with the whimsical yet warm hearted art by Jen Corace create a go-to baby gift, a hilarious read-aloud, and the perfect intervention for picky eaters.
This book is perfect for any picky eaters! When the chicks refuse to eat things, once they try a bite, they actually love it! I like the fun rhymes and that some of the words are playful like the way little ones talk (chocolate chippy and treaties). :)
Wash your wings, and take a seat. What will these tiny chickies eat? With the help of Cow, Pig, and Sheep, soon the chickies learn to cheep, "Pass the carrots. Pass the peas. Pass those yummy broccolis!" With engaging rhymes, endearing illustrations, and a soft padded cover, this book is perfect for babies and toddlers to enjoy, especially those picky chickies.
This has always been a favorite of mine since I was a child, and it continues to be as I read it with my boys. The really fun thing is seeing my oldest (he is only in kindergarten) as he tries to read it to his little brother before bed. The rhymes are really something else. They are so fun and silly. We have loved this book during the St. Patrick's Day holiday with the green eggs but just as well as every other day of the year. We often bring up this story at meal times as well. When our boys don't want to try a new dish, we will quote this story and it brings a smile to their face and a brave bone in their body to help them give it a try.
Sam-I-Am tries to persuade his friend to try green eggs and ham.
Bear Likes Jam - The Goodfather - We are big fans of Ciara Gavin and her characters and stories. We love that Bear Likes Jam is based on her own experiences as a mother trying to help her picky eater (and eating maybe a bit too much jam herself)! It's a fun, inventive story and a great way to help tackle the topic of picky eating habits with a young reader.
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato - Lola is a fussy eater. A very fussy eater. She won’t eat her carrots (until her brother Charlie reveals that they’re orange twiglets from Jupiter). She won’t eat her mashed potatoes (until Charlie explains that they’re cloud fluff from the pointiest peak of Mount Fuji). There are many things Lola won’t eat, including - and especially - tomatoes. Or will she? Two endearing siblings star in a witty story about the triumph of imagination over proclivity.
Bread and Jam for Frances - Lemony Snickers - Bread and Jam for Frances is a classic originally published in 1964 about little Frances who loves bread and jam and refuses to try anything else. Eventually, her parents stop offering other food, and after Frances eats bread and jam for breakfast, lunch, after-school snack, and dinner, Frances starts to get tired of it and discovers a new interest in trying new foods. The earliest readers may not appreciate the lesson unless they have some helpful prompting from someone reading with them. But if the reading happens together, it might be a great way to talk about the picky eating together. As a bonus, the book might introduce young readers to some new, old-fashioned words--like the "doily" Frances uses to set out a nice little school lunch picnic.
The Picky Eater - Piper the piglet is a very picky eater, who will only eat food beginning with the letter "P"--and somehow her parents must break her of this strange quirk, and get her to eat other good foods.
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Books About Trying New Things & Picky-eating
This book is perfect for any picky eaters! When the chicks refuse to eat things, once they try a bite, they actually love it! I like the fun rhymes and that some of the words are playful like the way little ones talk (chocolate chippy and treaties). :)
Wash your wings, and take a seat. What will these tiny chickies eat? With the help of Cow, Pig, and Sheep, soon the chickies learn to cheep, "Pass the carrots. Pass the peas. Pass those yummy broccolis!" With engaging rhymes, endearing illustrations, and a soft padded cover, this book is perfect for babies and toddlers to enjoy, especially those picky chickies.
This has always been a favorite of mine since I was a child, and it continues to be as I read it with my boys. The really fun thing is seeing my oldest (he is only in kindergarten) as he tries to read it to his little brother before bed. The rhymes are really something else. They are so fun and silly. We have loved this book during the St. Patrick's Day holiday with the green eggs but just as well as every other day of the year. We often bring up this story at meal times as well. When our boys don't want to try a new dish, we will quote this story and it brings a smile to their face and a brave bone in their body to help them give it a try.
Sam-I-Am tries to persuade his friend to try green eggs and ham.
Lola is a fussy eater. A very fussy eater. She won’t eat her carrots (until her brother Charlie reveals that they’re orange twiglets from Jupiter). She won’t eat her mashed potatoes (until Charlie explains that they’re cloud fluff from the pointiest peak of Mount Fuji). There are many things Lola won’t eat, including - and especially - tomatoes. Or will she? Two endearing siblings star in a witty story about the triumph of imagination over proclivity.
Bread and Jam for Frances - Lemony Snickers - Bread and Jam for Frances is a classic originally published in 1964 about little Frances who loves bread and jam and refuses to try anything else. Eventually, her parents stop offering other food, and after Frances eats bread and jam for breakfast, lunch, after-school snack, and dinner, Frances starts to get tired of it and discovers a new interest in trying new foods. The earliest readers may not appreciate the lesson unless they have some helpful prompting from someone reading with them. But if the reading happens together, it might be a great way to talk about the picky eating together. As a bonus, the book might introduce young readers to some new, old-fashioned words--like the "doily" Frances uses to set out a nice little school lunch picnic.
How to Feed Your Parents - Who's feeding whom? Matilda Macaroni loves to try new foods! Unfortunately, her parents don't. They only like pizza delivered, burgers from a bag, and noodles from a box. What's a girl with adventurous tastes to do? The engaging heroine of this fun, twisted picture book manages to turn the tables on her finicky parents and teach them that dinner can be more than chicken nuggets. There's also a recipe for quiche that young cooks can try!
Want to see even more books about picky-eating and trying new things?
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