This is one of my favorite book lists so far! I love trying new foods from around the world, especially when I travel!
These books take us to Syria, Mexico, Haiti, China, and more!
These picture books are a great way to learn about the traditions of different countries.
I will update this list as I find more books! Follow me on Instagram to get updates and ideas for other picture books! If there’s a book you think I should add, comment below!
If you’re looking for more diverse picture books, check out this list! There are over 250 amazing books to add to your classroom or home library! The Ultimate List of Diverse Picture Books is the perfect list for you!
Just a friendly reminder, I am an Amazon Affiliate, so if you decided to use the links below to purchase the books, I do get a commission.
I’m also a Bookshop Affiliate. Bookshop works with local independent bookstores to deliver books to your door. You can shop this list on Bookshop here.
Octopus Stew By Eric Velasquez
Who wants Octopus Stew?
Ramsey finds out his grandma is making octopus stew, pulpo guisado for dinner!
After buying the best octopus from the market they can find, they learn that it is NOT your ordinary octopus.
Grandma and Ramsey begin hearing strange noises from the kitchen and that’s when things get real crazy.
I couldn’t keep my students quiet while I was reading, which means they loved it! Bookshop Affiliate Link
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang
Everyone in Amy’s family can make the perfect bao. Everyone except Amy.
Amy is determined to perfect her skills and of course, she finds a way! Bookshop Affiliate Link
Salma the Syrian Chef by Danny Ramadan
I love this book! Salma and her mother have recently moved to Canada after living at a refugee camp in Syria.
Salma’s mother is especially sad that her father isn’t with them just yet. Salma hates seeing her mother so sad and wants to do something to make her happy again.
So, Salma decides to cook the Syrian dish that will remind them of home. Bookshop Affiliate Link
Magic Ramen by Andrea Wang
In Magic Ramen, we find out how Momofuku Ando invented instant ramen noodles!
After World War II, you could find people waiting in long lines for overpriced ramen. People who didn’t have money for ramen ate bark and grass. The scarcity of food in Japan did not sit well with Momofuku.
He refused to rest until he came up with a solution.
It took Momofuku a year to come up with the perfect recipe that would be ready in minutes! Bookshop Affiliate Link
Freedom Soup by Tami Charles
It is a Haitian tradition to eat Freedom Soup for New Year’s to celebrate Haiti’s independence from France.
This New Year, Ti Gran teaches Belle how to make Freedom Soup.While cooking together, Ti Gran explains the history behind the soup.
It’s a great story embedded with facts.
There’s also a recipe for Freedom Soup in the back of the book! Bookshop Affiliate Link
The Runaway Wok by Ying Chang Compestine
The Zhang family finds themselves in possession of a rusty old wok that turns out to be magical! They went from not having much to having so much they want to share everything with their community.
The traditional cast iron wok was invented during the Han Dynasty. The wok symbolizes sharing since it can cook food for multiple families. Today, it is still the most used cooking utensil in China. Bookshop Affiliate Link
Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia
Aneel learns that when his grandfather was a child in India, he had the strength of a tiger. Aneel wants to see if his grandfather, Dada-ji still has the power.
The only way to find out is to whip up some roti. Since everyone in Aneel’s house is too busy to cook roti for him, Aneel decides to do it himself. Bookshop Affiliate Link
Bee-bim Bop! By Linda Sue Park
Have you ever had Bee-bim bop? It is a popular dish from Korea!
In this book, Bee-bim Bop, a little girl is excited to help her family make dinner!
This book starts at the grocery store and ends with the family enjoying their meal.
Like many other books on this list, there’s a recipe in the back of the book! Bookshop Affiliate Link
Holy Mole: A Folktale From Mexico by Caroline McAlister
This folktale explains how the traditional Mexican sauce molé was created!
The Viceroy of Spain is coming to the colony to send back a report to the king of Spain.
While visiting, he stops at the monastery for a meal and unexpectedly eats the most delicious meal. Bookshop Affiliate Link
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
Fry bread is a bread made by many Native Americans. It is not a traditional dish, but you can find that many Native Americans make it frequently.
Fry Bread is a cute story about a Native American family, but I think the best parts of the book is in the Author’s Note. Bookshop Affiliate Link
The Story of Chopsticks by Ying Chang Compestine
The Story of Chopsticks is a Chinese Folktale about the creation of chopsticks of course! Bookshop Affiliate Link
The Story of Noodles by Ying Chang Compestine
I am a fan of the Yang Brothers. In this book, we learn how the boys created noodles! Bookshop Affiliate Link
This is a living list! Please save this post, share it, and come back for updates!
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