Farm to Book Storytime Storytime is video series for children ages 6 to 7 that uses children’s literature to teach children about food from the farm to the table. Farm to Book Storytime is free to join.
Farm to Book Storytime teaches your children about the sources of their food – how it is produced, grown, and transported from farm to table. It also introduces new foods and flavors from different cultures and countries to help your children learn about how people use food to celebrate and share with one another. We make these concepts accessible and fun for young children by using children’s literature read by a Spoons Across America Food Educator.
In each video, there are foods that we encourage you to have your children taste and explore, and that correlate to the food discussed in the book. After watching a Farm to Book Storytime video, we recommend that you give your children the opportunity to smell, taste, and talk about the new and unfamiliar foods mentioned in the book and learn about different cultures and their customs. Learning about new foods and tasting them will inspire your children to become adventurous eaters and to develop curiosity about taste, where their food is grown and how different cultures use spices, and fresh ingredients in their cooking.
Click here or scroll down the page to view the Farm to Book Storytime videos.
Click here to watch the video.
Are you interested in learning more about Spoons Across America’s Farm to Book Storytime?
In this video, Ms. Clarice provides you with advice to successfully teach the program to your children, what is included on the printable activity worksheets, the steps to lead a food exploration activity with your child, and some helpful tips to be successful in teaching the program.
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Below is an example of a Farm to Book Storytime activity.
Please fill out the form to sign up for Farm to Book Storytime and become a Food Explorer today!
If you are looking for food exploration activities you can do with your older children, ages 8 to 11,
check out the Food Explorers Club.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Farm to Book Storytime?
Twice a month Spoons Across America will post a new video where one of our Food Educators reads a food-themed storybook that your children can view online. Along with each video, there are activity sheets for you to do with your children, as well as recommended foods for your children to taste after they watch the video. The activity sheets are based on each storybook and are an exciting way for your children to learn about the food they eat. To help your children through their food exploration, we recommend purchasing the food item ahead of time so your child can taste the food directly after watching the video. This program is designed to include vegetables and fruits that can be found in any grocery store.
We recommend showing one video to your child every two weeks so your child has time to process what has been learned, as well as look forward to an upcoming video.
What types of books will be read in Farm to Book Storytime?
These picture books focus on a range of culinary, health, and agriculture-related topics including local and seasonal foods, information about plants (parts of a plant, how a seed grows), foods of different cultures, and nutrition.
What age group is recommended for this program?
Farm to Book Storytime is reccomended for children ages 6 to 7, but it can be used with a wider range of learners ages 5 to 8.
What is the cost of the program?
The cost to receive updates of Farm to Book Storytime videos is free.
Farm to Book Storytime – Most Recent Video
Click here to watch the video.
Bread Comes to Life
Written by George Levenson and
Photography by Shmuel Thaler
Read by Ms. Clarice
After watching this video children should try bread.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Farm to Book Storytime – PastVideos
Click here to watch the video.
Teatime Around the World
Written by Denyse Waissbluth and
Illustrated by Chelsea O’Byrne
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn how tea is enjoyed in Thailand, Japan, Russia, Egypt, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Uruguay, South Sudan, India, and more countries.
After watching this video children should try tea.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Try It!: How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat
Written by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Giselle Potter
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about Frieda Caplan—the produce pioneer who changed the way Americans eat by introducing exciting new fruits and vegetables, from baby carrots to blood oranges to kiwis.
After watching this video children should try mushrooms.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie: A Story About Edna Lewis
By Robbin Gourley
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about the childhood of renowned chef Edna Lewis. They hear about her and her family who grew and harvested their own crops and cooked with fresh, local ingredients.
After watching this video children should try a variety of apples, like granny smith, gala, golden delicious, or fuji.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Who Grew My Soup
Written by Tom Darbyshire and Illustrated by C. F. Payne
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about Phin and his questions about the vegetable soup his mom serves for lunch. Phin says he won’t slurp a single spoonful until he knows “Who grew my soup?” To Phin’s surprise, a man in a flying tomato balloon shows up to answer this question.
After watching this video children should try a vegetable soup. A recipe for an easy and tasty vegetable soup is included with your activity worksheets!
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
World Pizza
Written by Cece Meng and
illustrated by Ellen Shi
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your childrenlearn about a day when pizza starts falling from the sky! That day, pizza becomes something everyone has in common and starts friendships around the world.
After watching this video children should try making a homemade pizza! A recipe for Vegetable Pizza with Homemade Sauce Recipe is included with your activity worksheets!
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
When I Eat Plants
Written by Mary Parkinson
Illustrated by Imani Dumas
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children earn, through fun and super silly illustrations, how eating fruits and vegetables can help themselves and others.
After watching this video children should try snack with fresh vegetables and fruits, like a fruit smoothie or salad with fresh vegetables.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Green Green: A Community Garden Story
Written and Marie Lamba and Baldev Lamba
Illustrated by Sonia Sanchez
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about an overgrown city lot and the community of people who come together to turn it into a colorful garden.
After watching this video children should try a green fruit or vegetable, such as like lettuce, broccoli, or lime.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
The Little Red Hen
Written by Jerry Pinkney
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about the importance of hard work and helping others.
After watching this video children should try: various types of bread, such as wheat, matzah, or pita.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Right This Very Minute
Written by Lisl H. Detlefsen and Illustrated by Renee Kurill
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn more about where their food comes from.
After watching this video children should try local fruits and vegetables, such as apples, potatoes, or strawberries.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
The Honeybee Man
Written by Lela Nargi and Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about the life of an endearing beekeeper and the honey-making process
After watching this video children should try honey.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Dragons Love Tacos
Written by Adam Rubin and Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about making new friends and about what can go wrong at a taco party for dragons.
After watching this video children should try tacos or foods that is spicy, such as peppers.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Eat More Colors
Book and Illustrated by Breon Williams
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn all about the amazing benefits of eating right and leading a healthy lifestyle.
After watching this video children should try an assortment of colorful fruits, such as apples, strawberries, oranges, mangos, bananas, pineapple, kiwis, blueberries, or grapes.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato
Written and Illustrated by Lauren Child
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about the power of imagination and trying new foods.
After watching this video children should try tomatoes.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Tortillas Are Round
Written by Roseanne Thong and Illustrated by John Parra
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about the shapes all around them: triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas, rectangles are popsicles, and circles are tortillas.
After watching this video children should try tortillas.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Tops and Bottoms
Written by Janet Stevens
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about beating hardship by using one’s wit through the story of a gardening partnership.
After watching this video children should try a vegetable that grows above ground (like celery or broccoli) and one that grows below the ground (like carrots or radishes).
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
On The Farm, At The Market
Written by G. Brian Karas
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about how the food they eat goes from the farm to the market to their plate.
After watching this video children should try a winter vegetable that’s grown on a farm, like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, or turnips.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
The Empanadas that Abuela Made
Written by Diane Gonzales Bertrand and
illustrated by Alex Pardo Delange
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about a family that comes together to make and eat a meal.
After watching this video children should try empanadas.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table
Written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and
illustrated by Eric-Shabazz Larkin
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about Farmer Will Allen who, with the help of friends and neighbors, starts a farm in the middle of a metropolitan city.
After watching this video children should try a leafy green vegetable, like spinach or lettuce.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Bee-bim Bop!
Written by Linda Sue Park and
illustrated by Ho Baek Lee
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about a child who helps her mother make bee-bim bop, a traditional Korean dish of rice topped, and then mixed, with meat and vegetables.
After watching this video children should try rice.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Bee-bim Bop!
Written by Linda Sue Park and
illustrated by Ho Baek Lee
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children learn about a child who helps her mother make bee-bim bop, a traditional Korean dish of rice topped, and then mixed, with meat and vegetables.
After watching this video children should try rice.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
One Green Apple
Written by Eve Bunting and
illustrated by Ted Lewin
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, children meet Farrah who visits an apple orchard with her classmates on her second day at a new school in a new country. Farrah and her new classmates learn about different types of apples and how to make apple cider on their visit.
After watching this video children should try a green apple.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Baby Goes to Market
Written by Atinuke and
illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about Baby and Mama who go shopping at a marketplace, where Baby gets to practice its counting by getting gifted foods.
After watching this video children should try fresh fruit, like bananas, oranges, or coconut.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
The Apple Orchard Riddle
Written by Margaret McNamara and
illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about apples and apple orchards —including how apples are harvested, how cider is made, and what the different varieties of apples are — while trying to solve a riddle.
After watching this video children should try: a variety of apples, like granny smith, gala, golden delicious, or fuji.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Fruit Bowl
Written and Illustrated by Matt Hoffmann
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about a Tomato who proves to the other fruit that he also belongs in the fruit bowl, and he’s bringing some unexpected friends with him.
After watching this video children should try a tomato.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
Written by Kevin Noble Maillard and
Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about fry bread, a staple food of many tribes across the country. Your children also learn about the sharing of traditions and the love of family.
After watching this video children should try fry bread, click here for the recipe.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
Little Chef
Written by Matt Stine & Elisabeth Weinberg and
Illustrated by Paige Keiser
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn about Lizzie, a little chef, who loves to cook and who makes her favorite dish for her parents and grandmother.
After watching this video children should try sweet potatoes.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
Click here to watch the video.
My Food, Your Food, Our Food
Written by Emma Carlson Berne and
Illustrated by Sharon Sordo
Read by Ms. Clarice
In this book, your children learn that all over the world, people eat many different and wonderful worlds
After watching this video children should try: a new food from a different part of the world, like curry, perogies, ramen, tacos, sushi, or fufu balls.
Click here for free printable accompanying activity worksheets.
