December 5th is National Comfort Food Day!

The cover of “Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao” by Kat Zhang. A drawn little girl and a cat sit together on top of a giant bao floating in a night sky with clouds.

There’s nothing quite like some good comfort food during the colder months. Soup, pasta, bread, pastries, we love it all! That’s why we’re bringing you our favorite cozy comfort food based children’s books in honor of National Comfort Food Day on December 5th.

 

The cover of “Strega Nona : an original tale” by Tomie DePaola. Through a drawn archway of a house, there is an old woman who stands carrying a cauldron. There is a bunny behind her, a peacock in a tree to her right and a bird sitting atop a small house on her left.
Strega Nona by Tomie DePaola

Strega Nona: An Original Tale by Tomie DePaola
“When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The cover of “Fry bread : a Native American family story” by Kevin Noble Maillard. A drawn depiction of a Native woman carries a bowl of fry bread in one hand and uses her other hand to hold a baby on her hip. The baby is using both hands to eat a piece of fry bread.
Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
“Using illustrations that show the diversity in Native America and spare poetic text that emphasizes fry bread in terms of provenance, this volume tells the story of a post-colonial food that is a shared tradition for Native American families all across the North American continent. Includes a recipe and an extensive author note that delves into the social ways, foodways, and politics of America’s 573 recognized tribes.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"It's the best day of the year-tamale day. Luis and his family have been making and eating tamales all day. But when Luis, Jacob, and Letty all want the last tamale, there's only one way to choose a winner..."-- Provided by publisher.”
The Last Tamale by Orlando Mendiola

The Last Tamale by Orlando Mendiola
“It’s the best day of the year-tamale day. Luis and his family have been making and eating tamales all day. But when Luis, Jacob, and Letty all want the last tamale, there’s only one way to choose a winner…”– Provided by publisher.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The cover of “Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao” by Kat Zhang. A drawn little girl and a cat sit together on top of a giant bao floating in a night sky with clouds.
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang
“Amy is determined to make a perfect dumpling like her parents and grandmother do, but hers are always too empty, too full, or not pinched together properly.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

The cover of “Dad Bakes” by Katie Yamasaki. A drawn girl and her father knead dough together. A long strand of ribbon loops through their arms and flows off behind the father.
Dad Bakes by Katie Yamasaki

Dad Bakes by Katie Yamaski
“Dad rises before the sun, goes to work at the bakery where he kneads, rolls, and bakes bread, and as the world starts its day, Dad heads home to his young daughter where they play, read, and bake together.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The cover of “Rising” by Sidura Lidwig. A drawn depiction of a child and their mother baking bread together, standing at a counter top. The mother holds a large bowl still while the child lifts up the blue fabric covering to peek at the dough inside.
Rising by Sidura Lidwig

Rising by Sidura Lidwig
“Melt into the nooks and crannies of this book’s unhurried pages, offering a place to rest and a pregnant pause for counting your many blessings–current and imminent! Here, a child and a mother measure, mix, knead, shape, and tuck their dough under a towel like a sleeping baby. Then, as they do every week, they wait while their dough rises, soon to be baked and gratefully shared at a Shabbat gathering with loved ones. Author Sidura Ludwig’s poetic narration captures the experience of a Jewish family as they make challah–a lesson in patience, slowing down, faith, and family. Illustrator Sophia Vincent Guy brings light and warmth to the scene, from a sun-bleached, gossamer curtain to the rising steam from the bread, all rendered in delicate, decorative patterns. Whatever their background, readers will be happy to find the author’s go-to recipe for challah at the end, along with a glossary and an author’s note describing the personal meaning of her family’s weekly ritual”–Publisher’s website.”

 
 
 

Written by Ceilidh Jimenez