Why Read About Food?
BookPlate believes in the power of reading (and talking) about food. Sharing a book is like sharing a meal; an experience that forges bonds and deepens relationships.
Food rituals are an integral part of daily life. It is not surprising that food has long been a recurring motif in literature for children. Consider nursery rhymes, fairy tales, traditional stories, Alice’s food misadventures in Wonderland, and the lavish feasts at Hogwarts. By bringing together a diverse selection of books that build on this tradition, we hope to inspire readers to consider the role of food in their own lives, as well as the lives of others.
Food has the power to transport us to the past and connect us with the present. Food can be a gateway into other cultures and ways of life. Food is both universal and individual. Our food choices are a big part of who we are. Food is tradition, celebratory feasts, and communal meals. Food is comfort and a reminder of home. Food is political, inextricable from economic and environmental factors.
The text curations featured on BookPlate are rooted in Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s concept of books as ‘mirrors, windows, and doors’. We hope readers will see themselves reflected in these selections, and likewise that these books will expose readers to experiences different from their own.
How to Use BookPlate
The boundaries between stories and reality are easily manipulated. Why not try cooking one of the recipes from our books? Or recreating a tasty storybook spread in real life? Does it look the same? Think of all the memories a simple small dish like rice and milk pudding can evoke, and the fantastic bonds that can be created over shared dishes.
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Let’s use these books as toolkits to educate young humans. Some of them could function as ice breakers to begin serious conversations and raise awareness of specific issues like social justice. We encourage taking the social, economic, and environmental issues mentioned in these books to community spaces and to using them to evoke an action of change. This change can start small, like encouraging children to grow vegetables or introducing concepts like fair trade.
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This curation is a fun way to learn about history, science, and medicine. By thinking and locating the historical change of one item or a concept like table manners, these books invite children to meet the older generation and listen about their food. Oral history is a powerful way to engage with culture and to learn and trying to locate older cutlery and use it to create modern food is always fun. The science of making food is another interesting concept. Is it easy to make all these delicious candies we see in books? Why do eggs stick to the pan? Why do things go brown when we fry them? Can we all taste the same flavours? Wait what is flavour?! All these discussions and mini labs help us to engage differently with books.
Finally, these curations and ideas are a means to welcome newcomers to our communities and to engage with different people and generations with intimate conversations and interactive experiences. All the while respecting others and allowing them to share their stories and their expertise.