So if you haven’t heard, I live in Arizona.  And today, the high was 115 degrees.  It is currently 8:30, and according to Google, it is 106.  Dinner lately has been a combination of tamago gohan, chips and hot sauce/guacamole, Triscuits and cherries, and when I’m feeling ambitious, my favorite chopped salad (which I promise I will eventually get around to posting about).  Basically, there be no cookin’ round these here parts.  Sure, I’ve got plenty of back-logged half finished drafts and pictures, but well, even thinking about the stove being on makes me hot.  (Or is that just my genes?  Jokes!)

So please, give me my moment of self indulgence.  I’m not sure if you remember, but despite my potty mouth and my affinity for the bottle, I’ve got a little MiniMe running around.  And you know, sometimes I actually try to do good when it comes to him.  On that note, I’ve compiled a little list of food-related children’s books that occupy a place both in the bookshelves and heart of Mr. Parker.  The following list is small-just a few of our favorites that I think those of you with kiddos will (or do) enjoy.  My other hope is that you guys will jump in and be all know-it-all-y and share some that I’ve missed!

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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - A classic.  I remember my elementary school librarian reading this to us.  And because I was her favorite, she always let me check out the featured book of the week out first.  (Believe it or not, there are perks to being the nerdy book worm.)  It’s also being released in (3D!) movie form in September.  I’m super excited to bring Parker and have him freak out at a meatball about to knock him over.  It’ll be good times.
Green Eggs and Ham- Obviously, another classic.  This one has been put on the shelf for a bit, since it’s long, and Parker’s currently has the attention span of a two-year old.  (He’s very advanced for his age.)
Yum Yum Dim Sum- “Why, oh why, my little shu mai, why do I love you so?”  Because you’re effing delicious, that’s why.  There’s a whole line of these colorful “World Snacks” board books, and I currently own this one and the Sushi one.  If Tom sticks around, I’m going to have to invest in Mangia! Mangia!.  Funnily enough, in the area we live in, Let’s Nosh!is probably more relevant than Hola! Jalapeno.
First Book of Sushi- “Miso in my sippy cup, tofu in my bowl; Crab and avocado fill my California roll.”  This is actually where I got the idea to put carrot soup in his sippy.
Bear Snores On- So not technically about food per se, but I love these Bear books.  I only own a couple of the series, but they’re both based on throwing a rockin party and eating enormous amounts of food.  Because I’m super lame, I am quite partial to nice rhyme-y books, and these books do a very good job of letting you sing-song your way through a hibernation party.  (Plus Parker thinks my highly exagerrated snores are hilarious.)
Bear Wants More - Basically, a day in the life of Meleyna.  I wake up, I eat everything in sight, my ass doesn’t fit through the door.
How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? - Parker loves this series simply because he really likes dinosaurs and he really likes to go “RAaaawWWrr!”  I’m not particularly fond of them simply because I find the cadence of the rhymes to be kinda forced and trippy-uppy.  You know, cause I’m a nerd.  But I’ll be really excited when he learns to put green beans up his nose and I know where he got it from.
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!- From one of my favorite children’s book writers, Mo Willems.  He also does one of my favorite children’s book of all time, My Friend is Sad.  Also, because I get unnaturally excited by hot dogs.  (Perv!)
In the Night Kitchen - Another classic by the author of Where the Wild Things Are from back in my day.  (Actually, from way before my day.  It’s just that good it’s still hanging around.)  I can’t tell you how many times my brother and I used to march around the house with pots and pans yelling “Milk in the batter!  Milk in the batter!  We bake cake and nothin’s the matter!”  Plus, who doesn’t like nudey bits and pastry?

While hardly a comprehensive list, it’s not meant to be.  Here’s where you chime in.  I’ve got a comment section for a reason kids–use it!  Let me know about some of your favorites from days of yore, or about the favorites of your little munchkins. Have at it!  (Oh, and all of the above titles can be found on Amazon, generally less than cover prices.  Yes, you have to pay shipping, but if you order a bunch at a time, I find it to be a lot more worth it.)

Update 8/2/09: Rather than continuing to update this as comments come in/I make discoveries of my own, I’ll add them to my Amazon store.  As I make more discoveries, I’ll add them in there.  Thanks for all the suggestions!

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