The Best Picture Books About Mealtime and/or Picky Eaters

All the Frances books are wonderful. They capture childhood perfectly, and the illustrations are great, too.

Yoko is in my top 10 list of best picture books of all time. It's about multiculturalism and acceptance, yet manages to be totally engaging and not preachy or pedantic. Plus, I love the characters.

My 4 year old daughter loves all the Lauren Child books, but this was the one that got her hooked. I won't read books to my kids unless I love them too, so I am happy to share that Lauren Child is also one of my favorite children's authors. This book grabbed my attention because my daughter, like Lola, has a fear of certain vegetables. But this book has her more interested in, for instance, clouds (mashed potatoes). Beautiful illustrations and wonderfully designed. I am so happy to have randomly come across this author — she rocks!

I was a picky eater growing up, so my mother used this charming book about a reluctant eater to convince me to try new foods.

An unnamed character runs away from Sam I Am who holds a delectable plate of eggs and ham, both of a green color. Sam I Am chase our hero all over using every enticement to convince him that this plate holds pure delight. Finally, our hero relents and tries the uniquely colored food.

Every year our school serves kindergartners green eggs and ham during a unit on foods. Our older students learned of how the book, written as a result of a bet between Dr. Suess and a friend, only contains 50 different words and receive a challenge to do the same. As a teacher, I plan to use the book as a centerpiece to a Summer School unit on writing using limited words.