Notice something
“What catches your eye in this picture?”
You can share something you notice, too, then turn the page when you’re ready.
A parent’s guide to choosing a read-aloud
Picture books
for picky eaters
If your child likes stories and has strong food favorites, a food-themed picture book can give you something familiar to read and talk about together. Here’s what to look for before adding one to your shelf.
For families with children ages 3–7
Explore the Book ChecklistBy the Picky Patty team · Updated October 14, 2026
Start with the story.Choose a book you’ll enjoy sharing
Begin with your child’s interests
A favorite food, a funny dog, a familiar family scene or an illustration that makes your child pause can be a useful starting point. Look through a sample and imagine reading it aloud together.
Food can be the subject of a storytime conversation. Keep the goal of this reading session simple: enjoy the characters, notice the pictures and make room for your child’s ideas. Choose a book because you want to share its story, without expecting a particular eating outcome.
NAEYC’s family literacy guidance encourages talking about stories, rereading favorites and enjoying a variety of books. The checklist below is our own way of applying that storytime focus to a food-themed picture book.
Before you buy or borrow
Four things to look for
You can use these questions with any book sample, a library copy or a book you already own.
A familiar starting point
Does the character have an interest your child might recognize? It could be a favorite food, a pet or a family routine. Familiar details give you something easy to point to when opening the book.
Look in the sample: Can you name one detail your child might want to talk about?Pictures worth exploring
Look for illustrations that invite a second glance: an expression, a surprising object or something happening in the background. You should be able to enjoy looking together as well as following the words.
Look in the sample: What might your child notice before you begin reading?Words you like reading aloud
Try a few lines aloud. Notice whether you enjoy the rhythm, humor or repeated phrases. Think about the pace of your own storytime and whether you’d be happy to revisit the book.
Look in the sample: Is there a line or sound you’d enjoy reading again?Room for imagination
Look for a story that leaves you something to wonder about together. A character’s surprise or an unexpected discovery can lead to conversation beyond naming the foods in a picture.
Look in the sample: Is there a question you could ask without a single “right” answer?
Try one question, then follow their lead
Make the pictures part of the conversation
Choose a prompt that fits the page you’re reading. Your child can answer, point to a detail or simply keep listening.
Imagine something
“What do you think is inside the basket?”
Accept imaginative answers and enjoy finding out what the story shows.
Create something
“If you drew your own pretend pizza, what would it look like?”
Keep paper nearby or use a free Picky Patty coloring page after reading.
For a complete session with suggested timing and materials, use our preschool storytime plan. For a quieter reading time, choose just one picture to revisit.
Before you choose
Should I read the sample before buying?
Yes. A sample lets you explore the language and illustrations and decide whether the story feels right for your family. Picky Patty has two sample spreads you can open full-size.
Do we have to talk about trying a food?
No. You can enjoy the characters, rhymes, colors or pretend-pizza activity. There’s no tasting task in our storytime plan.
Can we start with a free activity?
Yes. The three printable activities are available without buying the book or signing up.
This guide is written by the Picky Patty team and features our own book. The NAEYC link provides general literacy guidance; it is not an endorsement of Picky Patty.
One story to explore
Meet Picky Patty
Picky Patty Only Eats Pizza, by Maggie Merritt, is a rhyming picture book for ages 3–7 about Patty, her dog Buddy and a basket of surprises.
Pizza is Patty’s familiar starting point. Read the sample to see the illustrations and hear the rhymes, then decide whether you’d like to share the complete adventure.