BHM22 Turn Knowledge Into Action

Let’s talk about our health! Teaching children early about having healthy eating, exercise, meditation, talking about their feelings, wearing masks, and other habits will help them far into the future. 

Excited about what you have learned from the book recommendations for the first three weeks of Black History Month 2022? Here are books that dig a little deeper to help you think about or build children’s activities around health- and nutrition-related topics.

Health

Im stretchedI’m Stretched. Author: Julia Cook. Illustrator: Stephanie Dehennin. A girl talks about all the ways she’s stretched thin from homework, activities, navigating friendships, building her self-confidence, and more. Her mother teaches her mindful breathing, listens to her worries, and helps her develop ways to deal with stress. The book also provides parents with helpful ideas on how to deal with stress.  Link

lets make yogaLet’s Make Yoga Magic. Author: Heather Leah. Illustrator: Sandie Sonke. A book with diverse children showing how to do yoga poses.  Link



brush brush brushBrush, Brush, Brush! Author: Alicia Pardon. Illustrator: Children’s Press. With diverse characters, this book reinforces the importance of dental health by showing toddlers how to brush their teeth step by step.  Link

our familys doing yogaOur Family’s Doing Yoga. Author: SonJouria Sydnor.  A family comes together to practice mindful breathing and yoga. This book provides descriptions of the poses and games for getting excited about yoga.  Link

breath by breathBreath by Breath: A Mindfulness Guide to Feeling Calm. Author: Paul Christelis. Illustrator: Elisa Paganelli. Children from diverse backgrounds use mindfulness breathing to deal with their feelings.  Link 


we listen to our bodiesWe Listen to Our Bodies. Author: Lydia Bowers. Illustrator: Isabel Muñoz. Deja is trying to understand why her body can feel differently when she experiences different emotions. This book helps children develop a vocabulary to understand and communicate their feelings, develop personal boundaries, and build their social and emotional skills. It also helps parents develop tools to communicate with their children about their emotions.  Link

Learning When Outdoors

get outdoorsGet Outdoors: A Mindfulness Guide to Noticing Nature. Author: Paul Christelis. Illustrator: Elisa Paganelli. A little boy and girl want to stay inside, but their father creates a game that gets them outside, observing nature, and becoming mindful of the world around them. This is a great book to encourage families to get outside and explore their neighborhoods, parks, and more.  Link

rubys sleepoverRuby’s Sleepover. Author: Kathryn White. Illustrator: Miriam Latimer. Two little girls camp out in the backyard. Every sound sparks their imagination. Use this book to start planning for your own outdoor adventure to get fresh air, relax, and enjoy nature. Link

How a seed growsHow a Seed Grows. Author: Helene Jordan. Illustrator: Loretta Krupinski. A little girl explains how seeds grow. This book contains a project of growing seedlings to help start a child’s gardening project.  Link 

In the gardenIn the Garden with Dr. Carver. Author: Susan Grigsby. Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell This historical fiction focuses on how Dr. George Washington Carver inspired communities to learn the science behind growing and eating food. This is a great book to use to inspire little ones to help plant a garden so that they can eat yummy healthy foods that they grow.  Link

american grownAmerican Grown. Author: Michelle Obama. The First Lady provides insights into the White House garden and celebrates the history of gardens in the United States. This book includes gardening recommendations for families, nutritious recipes, and insights into a variety of gardening models. It’s a great book for families, especially those with older children.  Link

Learning Through Science Activities

kitchen scienceKitchen Science for Toddlers: 20 Edible STEAM Activities and Experiments to Enjoy! Author: Melissa Mazur. With drawings of diverse children, this book helps children discover and learn through edible kitchen experiments and activities. Link

awesome kitchenAwesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat! Author: Dr. Megan Olivia Hall. With some illustrations of children from diverse backgrounds, this book helps five to 10 year-olds to use easy kitchen items to conduct edible experiments. Children will learn more about the scientific method within the context of food such as developing plant-based dyes and understanding why onions can make people cry. Link

biology for kidsBiology for Kids. Author: Liz Lee Heinecke. Illustrated biographies of scientists from different backgrounds combined with science experiments and activities. Link 



awesome outdoorAwesome Outdoor Experiments for Kids. Author: Dr. Megan Olivia Hall. With some illustrations of children from diverse backgrounds, this book helps five to 10 year-olds to use the scientific method to explore the outdoors. Over 50 steam projects help children to learn about the science of nature. Link


Learning with Food

Encouraging New Foods & Healthy Eating

becoming a superheroBecoming a Superhero. Author: C. Ariane Durden. Illustrator: Devonn Armostrong. This book helps children understand why it is important to make healthy food choices to keep their bodies strong and their minds sharp. How do specific foods help us increase energy, our eyesight, and more? Link

the prince of picky eatingThe Prince of Picky Eating Tries New Foods. Author: Stacey Woodson.  When challenged to try new foods, a little boy accepts and tries to trick his sister. The trick is on him when he learns about the importance of nutritious eating and enjoys some new foods. Link

the prince new foodsThe Prince of Picky Eating Tries New Foods Activity Book. Author: Stacey Woodson. This activity book with games, coloring, puzzles, and more accompanies The Prince of Picky Eating Tries New Foods. Link 


the princessThe Princess of Picky Eating Tries New Foods. Author: Stacey Woodson.  When challenged to try new foods, a little girl accepts and tries to trick her sister. The trick is on her when she learns about the importance of nutritious eating and enjoys some new foods. Link

the princess new foodsThe Princess of Picky Eating Tries New Foods Activity Book. Author: Stacey Woodson. This activity book with games, coloring, puzzles, and more accompanies The Princess of Picky Eating Tries New Foods. Link


Let’s Cook Together!

How about cooking together as a family or with children you know? Here are some cookbooks that you can use to cook delicious and healthy meals. Cooking with children does not mean that you can only eat typical children’s foods. Here are some cookbooks that may also help you expand children’s palates and food choices. 

best bitesBest Bites Cookbook. Author: Omari McQueen. Twelve year-old chef and restaurateur provides 35 healthy and plant-based recipes perfect for cooking with children. Here is a great opportunity to help a child eat more healthily by cooking together. Link

carla hallCarla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration. Author: Carla Hall. Tasty soul food can include meat, veggie, light and healthy, and seasonal choices. Try some recipes that will have children asking for more please! Link

Rappers DelightRapper’s Delight: The Hip Hop Cookbook. Author: Joseph Innis. Illustrator: Ralph Miller. This cookbook contains dishes with titles inspired by hip hop artists. Not everyone loves cooking, but perhaps a fun afternoon combining cooking a fun hip hop inspired dish with good music would be fun! Link

soul food loveSoul Food Love. Author: Alice Randall & Caroline Randal. A mother and daughter use knowledge from four years of family tradition to create healthier soul food recipes. Link 



black foodBlack Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes From Across the African Diaspora. Author: Bryant Terry. For older developing gourmand, this book contains creative and delicious recipes combined with essays depicting aspects of black food, culture, and tradition. Link

sweet potato soulSweet Potato Soul. Author: Jenné Claiborne. One hundred easy and delicious vegan recipes to share with children and family members of all ages. Link