Tag Archives: Food

How Do You Eat Color?

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A boy, a girl, and their chameleon journey through the colors of fruits and vegetables, starting early in the day with leafy greens and moringa. They taste red tomatoes, red beans, and hibiscus. Next, they sample sunshine yellow in pineapple, mango, and cora. A rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables entices them as they continue their day. White coconut juice, orange carrots, purple yams – their day of colors darkens into the black of sleep. Then, tomorrow is another colorful day. Back matter explains about healthy eating, why we should eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, and how families can eat more colors together. Brilliant, colorful oil on paper illustrations depict dozens of delicious ways to eat something new and delicious.

Title: How Do You Eat Color? Author: Mabi David Illustrator: Vas Doctor Publisher: Eerdmans Book for Young Readers Copyright: 2025 Original Language: Filipino Translator: Karen Llagas Original Title: Paano Kumain ng Kulay Original Publisher: Adarna House, Inc. Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5638-8 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Philippines Author’s ethnicity: Filipina Author’s residence: Philippines Illustrator’s ethnicity: Filipina Illustrator’s residence: Manila, Philippines Subjects: Asia, Chameleons, Colors, Eating, Fruits, Healthy eating, Plants, Rainbows, Vegetables

The Richest Cow In The World

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“The Richest Cow in the World” by Barroux is a charming modern fable that follows a contented cow who enjoys simple pleasures like resting under her apple tree, listening to the wind, and watching clouds drift by. When Pig arrives with an elaborate entrepreneurial scheme—suggesting Cow could sell apples, make pies and applesauce, plant orchards, and eventually build a multinational food empire to become the world’s richest cow—Cow listens patiently to these grand visions of fame and fortune. The story serves as a 21st-century retelling of the classic fisherman parable, exploring timeless questions about what truly brings happiness and contentment in life. Through Cow’s gentle wisdom, readers discover that she already has a much better plan than chasing wealth and expansion, one that values peace and satisfaction over material success. Barroux’s simple, humorous watercolor illustrations in a limited palette perfectly capture the story’s whimsical tone while reinforcing its profound message about money, contentment, and self-respect. mjw

Title: The Richest Cow In The World Author: Barroux Illustrator: Barroux Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto Copyright: 2025 Original Language: French Original Title: La vache la plus riche du monde Original Publisher: Les ARenes. Paris Original Copyright: 2024 ISBN: 978-1-5253-1411-7 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Subjects: Careers, Cows, Fame, Fisherman parable, Fortune, Parables, Pigs

Rez Kid

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This inspiring story captures the complexities of identity and belonging on an Indigenous Peoples’ reservation (rez).  The young girl is taunted by the kids while riding on the school bus home. She just wants to get home to the reservation, where she can feel safe. One by one, she tells her mom, nóhkom, moshum, and aunty about what happened, and they all offer advice.  She decides to share something from her reservations with the other children. She says that she does beadwork, can ride a horse, and that she eats food straight from the land. She gives them all a piece of bannock and explains that the people she lives with on the rez speak their own language, dance pow-wow, smudge, snare rabbits, and more. She invites them to visit her rez, her home, so that they can see what it’s like. The writing is both lyrical and accessible, drawing readers into this celebration of traditional ways of life and the power of sharing. The vibrant illustrations created with pencil crayon and finished digitally complement the narrative beautifully, enhancing the story’s themes and evoking a deep sense of place. A beautiful author’s note is included.  mjw

Title: Rez Kid Author: Andrea Landry Illustrator: Isabella Fassler Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2025 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5253-1125-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Anishinaabe Author’s residence: Poundmaker Cree Nation, Ontario, Canada Illustrator’s residence: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Subjects: Ancestors, Canadiana, Culture, Food, Indigenous Peoples, Reservations, Self-esteem, Self-reliance, Tradition

The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall: Boris In Switzerland

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Boris Greycoat is a friendly, sophisticated young wolf who likes to meet people and try new foods. In this sequel to The Wolves of Greycoat Hall (also on OmniLibros.com), he attends the Institute of International Excellence, a fancy Swiss boarding school, while his parents visit his great aunt. He makes human friends, rides horses, enjoys delicious cakes, and learns to snowboard. But something suspicious at the school leads to an entertaining art mystery to solve. The book is a quick, fun read about wolves and humans living in harmony. The book includes a table of contents; a detailed map of the Institute of Excellence in Switzerland; humorous, illustrated sidebar comments on wolfish behavior and culture; and reproductions of paintings by Degas, Picasso, Munch, Monet, Cezanne, Braque, and Klee alongside their comical wolf counterparts. The brilliant, amusing, crisp pen and ink drawings add to the fun. Lucinda Gifford’s author website offers fun activities to go with the book. mjw

Title: The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall: Boris In Switzerland Author: Lucinda Gifford Illustrator: Lucinda Gifford Publisher: Kane Miller, A division of EDC Publishing Copyright: 2023 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Walker Books Limited, London Original Copyright: 2023 ISBN: 978-1-68464-720-0 Paperback pages: 232 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Fiction, Humor, Fantasy Book setting: Switzerland Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Melbourne, Australia Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Melbourne, Australia Subjects: Art, Art forgeries, Boarding schools, Cakes, Ghosts, Heroes, Horses, Mystery, Skiing, Snowboarding, Swiss cuisine, Villains, Wolves

Hilwa’s Gifts

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This heartwarming picture book follows a young girl’s journey to discover her cultural heritage through her grandmother’s traditional cooking. The story beautifully captures the intergenerational bond as Hilwa learns to prepare family recipes that connect her to her ancestral homeland. The illustrations, rendered in vibrant watercolors with intricate details, depict the rich textures of Middle Eastern fabrics, the steam rising from aromatic dishes, and the expressive faces of the characters as they share meaningful moments in the kitchen. Throughout the book, the illustrator uses a warm color palette dominated by rich oranges, reds, and golds to evoke the spices central to the narrative and create a sense of comfort and belonging. The final spreads feature stunning double-page illustrations of a family gathering where Hilwa presents her perfected dish, symbolizing how food traditions can preserve cultural identity across generations and distances.  mjw

Title: Hilwa’s Gifts Author: Safa Suleiman Illustrator: Anait Semirdzhyan Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2025 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5362-2942-4 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Palestine Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian American Author’s residence: Colorado Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Kazakhstan, raised in Armenia Illustrator’s residence: Seattle Subjects: Cousins, Farm life, Grandparents, Heritage, Middle East, Multigenerational, Olive harvest, Olive oil, Olives, Picnic, Traditions

Ayo’s Adventure Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu

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Ayo drifts off to sleep and dreams ( in ABC order) about the cultures, celebrations, and places of the African diaspora. He starts with A is for Afro and B is for braids, continues with H is for Hip-Hop and K is for Kente, and finishes with Y is for Yoruba and Z is for Zulu. Country labels, inset boxes, and pronunciation guides appear throughout the book. Backmatter includes a map, information about the diaspora, and extensive fascinating facts about the Black history and culture entries in the story, The brilliant, joyous illustrations were prepared digitally. mjw

Title: Ayo’s Adventure Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu Author: Ain Heath Drew Illustrator: Erin K. Robinson Publisher: Barefoot Books. Concord, Massachusetts Copyright: 2024 Original Language: English ISBN: 979-8-88859-211-3 Hardcover pages: 56 Age range: 5-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Africa and the Americas Author’s residence: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Illustrator’s residence: Nairobi, Kenya and New York City, USA Subjects: African American, Alphabet Book. Celebrations, Culture, Dance, Diaspora, Diversity, Heritage, Music, Revolutions, Traditions

The Spice Box

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Rishi’s grandmother (Paati) is arriving from India. Rishi wants to help his dad make potato curry using the family’s cherished spice box, a box that holds not just fragrant spices, but also family history and stories passed down through generations. When an accident with the box occurs, Rishi must draw on these treasured memories to set things right. The story highlights South Asian and Tamil cultural elements, such as the use of traditional spices and the term of endearment “Paati”. The vibrant illustrations are digitally rendered. Back matter includes descriptions of spices in a traditional Indian spice box and a recipe for Paati’s Potato Curry.

Title: The Spice Box Author: Meera Sriram Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat  Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Copyright: 2024 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-503-42713-2 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: South India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: Berkeley, California Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: California Awards: 2025 South Asia Book Award for Young Readers winner Subjects: cooking, Courage, Grandmothers, Intergenerational stories, Love, Resilience

Picking Tea With Baba

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A Chinese family of four rises before dawn to climb up the hills to the tea garden, where they pick tea leaves and carry them in wicker baskets on their backs. Their trek is hard, but beautiful. They see the gorgeous landscape, animals, and interesting insects. They sing folk songs, have a picnic, and get cooled by the rain. At the end of the day, they climb back down the mountain to sell their tea harvest at the village in front of the tea factory. Readers will learn about the origins of tea, discover Chinese culture and environment, and experience the close-knit family working together to make a living. The rich, vibrant artwork in bold strokes and strong colors further distinguishes the joyful story.

Title: Picking Tea With Baba Author: Xu Bin Illustrator: Yu Yin Publisher: Charlesbridge. Watertown, MA Copyright: 2025 Original Language: Chinese Translator: Shan Chen Original Title: Father’s Tea Garden On Hilltop Original Publisher: Magic Elephant Books ISBN: 978-162354-623-6 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: China Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: Chinq Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese Illustrator’s residence: China Subjects: Agriculture, Asia, Chinese culture, Family life, Gardens, Insects, Mountains, Tea, Traditions, Weather

Once Upon A Diwali

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Riya loves Diwali for the tasty treats called ladoos, but not for the dark night and the very loud fireworks. Mama says that Diwali is more than treats. She goes on to explain that it’s about the celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. Riya’s Papa decorates the house with lights and candles. Her sister makes rangoli, which are decorations of patterns made with powdered rice and colorful sand or flowers. Riya helps her. But she still is afraid of the darkness and the spooky, loud fireworks. So Mama tells the legend of why lights are used on Diwali. Riya listens and learns about Ram, the crown prince, who, with his wife and brother, was banished from his kingdom. There was a terrible battle. Ram won and returned to his kingdom on a path with glittering diyas (oil lamps) and glowing lights. Riya understands, becomes a bit braver, and asks to bring her own lantern to the celebration, just in case. Brightly colored cartoon-style artwork further distinguishes the storytelling. An author’s note, an illustrated glossary, a recipe for ladoos, and instructions for a Diwali paper diya craft are included as back matter. mjw

Title: Once Upon A Diwali Author: Anita Mishra Illustrator: Diah Chakraborty Publisher: Soaring Kite Books, LLC. Washington D.C. Copyright: 2024 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-958372-44-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: El Paso, Texas Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Assam, India Subjects: Celebrations, Differences, Diversity, Fireworks, Folktales, Holidays. Religions, Sweets

Papa’s Butter Chicken: A Celebration Of Family And Community

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Monica loves the butter chicken that her father makes. It’s been a family favorite since her father ate it as a young boy in a wonderful restaurant in Delhi. The two have fun preparing the meal, and they set the table for two. But then the doorbell rings and Grandma, Uncle Jai, Uncle Arjun, Cousin Anya, and so many more appear with food for everyone – fresh mangoes, channa masala, palak paneer, naan, dumplings, and cupcakes. They all share the feast that was made with love. Brightly colored artwork in reds, oranges, and blues features South Asian arches and arabesque designs. This celebration of family, food, and Indian heritage includes a foreword by renowned chef José Andrés and the author’s own recipe for butter chicken. mjw

Title: Papa’s Butter Chicken: A Celebration Of Family And Community Author: Monica Saigal Illustrator: Abeeha Tariq Publisher: Tiger Tales Copyright: 2024 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-6643-0044-6 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: Washington, DC Illustrator’s ethnicity: Pakistani-Irish Illustrator’s residence: UK Subjects: Celebrations, Communities, Cooking, Father-daughter relationships, Indian heritage, Recipes

Jack And The Beanstalk

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A young boy named Jack trades his cow for magical beans, leading him to a giant beanstalk that reaches the clouds. As Jack climbs the beanstalk, he discovers a giant’s castle filled with treasures and challenges. Rosen’s engaging and rhythmic writing style brings a fresh energy to this classic tale, making it accessible and entertaining for young readers. The vibrant illustrations complement the narrative beautifully, capturing the whimsy and adventure of Jack’s journey with bold colors and dynamic scenes.

Title: Jack And The Beanstalk Author: Michael Rosen Illustrator: Talleen Hacikyan Publisher: Tradewind Books, Vancouver Copyright: 2025 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1926890425 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-5 Genre: Picture Book, Fairy Tale Author’s ethnicity: British Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s residence: Montreal, Quebec Awards: The Author was the 2007 – 2009 British Poet Laureate Subjects: Beanstalks, Castle, Cow, Fables, Folktales, Giant, Magic beans, Opportunity, Poverty

The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery

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This engaging mystery follows Sona, a 12-year-old Nepali girl, who seeks to uncover the truth behind the missing family inheritance of her friend, Tara. Tara is promised to the greedy tea plantation manager who wants the precious gold jewelry. Sona has to prove her brother’s innocence, worry about her sickly mother, who is a tea plucker, and fret about her exams that will allow her to attend the Darjeeling International School. The story deftly intertwines the themes of friendship, bravery, and the rich tapestry of Indian heritage. The digitally rendered back-and-white illustrations add to the drama of this delightful blend of adventure and cultural exploration. The mystery is both entertaining and enlightening.

Title: The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery Author: Mitali Perkins Illustrator: Maithili Joshi Publisher: Charlesbridge Copyright: 2025 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-62354-373-0 Hardcover pages: 128 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary Book setting: Darjeeling, India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: San Francisco Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: New York City Awards: The Author was nominated for the National Book Award Subjects: Arranged marriages, Darjeeling, Examinations, Gold, Inheritance, Jewelry, School issues, Tea plantations