Perennial Favorites: Reviews of Books for Kids

These books have been reviewed just for you by Blueberry Patch Editor A.C. McCall.

To buy any of these books, click on their covers. We appreciate your purchases; when you buy books through our website, they help us to bring you lots more fun features and info. We'd like to hear from you about how you like these, and also about other books you like about raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and about eating raw vegan foods.

The Mighty Asparagus
Written and Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

By mixing his own artwork with Renaissance paintings--yep, he uses the real stuff while hoping the masters will forgive him--Radunsky whimsically presents a retelling of the Russian classic folktale "The Turnip." When a humongous asparagus suddenly grows in the middle of a king's yard, the king is not pleased and he wrestles with what to do. He consults the queen, his advisors, and, most notably, the princess, who declares she wants to eat the asparagus immediately. The book received a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year Award.

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato
Written and Illustrated by Lauren Child

I love the title, pictures, and the clever choice of words and images that I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato’s big brother Charlie uses to coerce his younger, finicky sister to eat her dinner. It's a familiar theme of the young, picky eater, but this story is told from her big brother's perspective: It's his job to get his sister to eat her dinner. Although the book mentions several non-raw foods (including some that are fried and carnivorous), it's still an enjoyable book that deals in a fun way with kids who don't want to eat their veggies. With its great, colorful mixed-media artwork, just the right amount of photography, funky fonts, and an enjoyable story, it’s a delight to look at and read. Because there are no grown-ups in the story (except for page one), the child reading or hearing it might well luxuriate in a feeling of independence, like Dr. Seuss's Cat In the Hat or Charlie Brown.

Eating the Alphabet
Written and Illustrated by Lois Ehlert
A great raw food book for kids. Who would have thought?! Introduces children to the alphabet as well as a big variety of fruits and vegetables, including some that aren’t commonly known, like Jicama and Ugli. There was even one in there that I didn’t know! Xigua?
100% fruit and veggie. 100% raw.

Lunch
Written and Illustrated by Denise Fleming
A simple, yet delightful picture book about a hungry and enthused rodent named, appropriately, Mouse. The hand-made paper artwork (no paints or brushes used) produces vivid images and complements zestful Mouse, whose facial expressions and body language are inspiring.
100% fruit and veggie. 100% raw.

How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods
Artwork by Saxton Freymann. Written by Joost Elffers
Wow. If you are not familiar with Saxton Freymann’s art, you might want to take a peek. Not only is the art in this book tremendous, but Elffers’s accompanying text takes you deeper into Freymann’s work. It can be interactive with a child if you discuss the text and laugh with, laugh at, or pity the art. Your child might want to mimic the facial expressions on the various creations. Although the book is recommended for ages 4-8, adults may enjoy it, too, especially fruit and veggie lovers. It is also good for beginning readers who can’t get enough of the pictures and become tempted to read the text. May give little (and big!) idle hands ideas for the next craft project or table decorations for an upcoming meal.
100% fruit and veggie! 100% raw!

The Carrot Seed
By Ruth Krauss. Illustrated by Crockett Johnson.
This is a classic picture book that I cannot get enough of. Not only is it about a carrot, but it’s a great psychological thriller--that is, in the short format of a board book--about a young boy who believes in himself despite the lack of support or encouragement from his family, even from his big brother, if you can believe that. The little boy perseveres, and is an inspiration for us all. This was first published in 1945. Although the father smokes a pipe, the story is:
100% veggie and 100% raw!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Written by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault. Illustrated by Lois Ehlert.

This is a rhythmical introduction to the alphabet, with bright color by artist, Lois Ehlert. Kids love it. It's a fun one to read, and involves a coconut tree.
100% fruit and veggie. 100% raw.

Weslandia
by Paul Fleischman. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.

What can I say? I wish I knew Wesley when I was in school. Not only is the boy transformed from someone who is ridiculed and tormented by schoolmates in June into a popular and even trend-setting kid by September, but he founds a new civilization and becomes a successful entrepreneur and fruitarian all through the course of one summer. The things Wesley can do are amazing, and all of them occur right in his own suburban backyard. Hawkes’s vibrant and expressive pictures aptly convey the place, time and enchantment of this tale. Although this is a picture book recommended for ages 4-9, I think it’s a story all ages will enjoy.
100% fruit.

The Leaf Men
Written and Illustrated by William Joyce

It’s a bit of a reach to suggest this book as one that relates to fruit and vegetables, except when you consider this is a story about a woman and her love for her what could be construed as an organic garden: when she falls ill, it is The Leaf Men who come to the rescue of her garden, not some evil spray. The story has a dark side (there is a death scene), but it is a great and fun-to-read story with fantastic illustrations by author William Joyce (also author and illustrator of George Shrinks, now a TV show). It makes quite an impression upon children and adults alike, and remains one of my favorites. It's fun to quote from as you dilly-dally through your day: "'Leaf Men!...Leaf Men, we are in need!'" and "Tiny of body but brave of heart, we always finish what we start!"

Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey
This is the classic tale first published in 1948 that kids still love. The inside cover pictures imply that Little Sal’s mother is going to cook the blueberries, and she talks about canning the berries for winter, but Little Sal can’t stand delaying gratification, and eats the blueberries right off the bush. Little does Little Sal know, she outsmarts her mother when she eats these berries, because uncooked, they still have all their enzymes intact. It’s a good story, plus it shows that some really good food comes straight from the plant.
100% fruit!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Written and Illustrated by Eric Carle
This is a classic children’s book featuring Carle’s distinctive tissue paper and paint artwork, as well as a unique page format, sense of humor and drama. It's full of scientific wonder. Originally published in 1969, this book continues to be a favorite of kids and parents. It contains a subtle positive message about fruits and vegetables, while introducing numbers and the days of the week and still being fun at the same time.

No, David!
Written and Illustrated by David Shannon
In this Caldecott Honor Book, the author tells a semi-autobiographical tale in which the character David repeatedly gets into trouble. Kids and adults love this story. Of special note: in the picture where David opens his mouth when it's full of all sorts of food, readers can see that David eats his vegetables and a fruit! Among other things (including meat), David eats broccoli, green beans, a lima bean, possibly one kernel of corn, a carrot and a blueberry. For this, David is recognized as a hero! At the time of this writing, I believe that the carrot and blueberry are raw. This book is the first in a series of a few David books. This book can motivate or encourage fledgling readers because of its short, fun text that children might like to memorize.