Read, Discuss, BAKE with books about bread
Books featuring bread for a delicious story time!
One of my favorite memories from my childhood was my dad’s baking. He’d often bake a simple white bread, which we would use for sandwiches or snacking. He’d sometimes turn some of it into cinnamon rolls, which came in second only to my mom’s chocolate chip cookies. On special occasions he’d whip up a batch of Orange Cinnamon Swirl, a loaf of mildly orange flavored bread with a swirl of cinnamon and sugar in the center, glazed with an orangey icing. In my mind, there was no better treat. And it wasn’t just the eating of the bread that was enjoyable, but the anticipation. And the smells. Is there any better smell than bread baking in the oven?
My dad taught me how to bake bread, and I still have the copy of Bernard Clayton’s New Complete Book of Breads that he gave me nearly 30 years ago. I bake from it often.
Bread is a staple all around the world. And bread, like books, can do wonders to foster human connection. So our hope with this list today is that it will inspire you to not only read one or more of these books about bread, but to get baking (or frying) together too. Make some beautiful memories and delicious treats together!
There isn’t a specific featured book in this post, but if I had to choose only one book from this list, I might go with The Only Way to Make Bread for its warm, homey feel and how it encourages the reader by showing that bread really isn’t all that intimidating. Bread Lab! is another contender.
Read: One of the books on this list or any other book featuring bread.
Discuss:
If the book is fiction, discuss the story and characters. Did the book end the way you expected? Was the story enjoyable? Can you relate to any of the characters?
If the book is nonfiction, talk about what you learned from it. Did anything surprise you?
Bread can be anything from a tortilla to a big loaf of sourdough. Even doughnuts and muffins are bread! What is your favorite kind of bread?
Have you ever baked (or helped bake) any kind of bread before?
Does your family enjoy fresh baked bread regularly or on special occasions?
Who, if anyone, in your family is a baker?
Have you ever been to a bakery?
Do:
Bake some bread together! Many of the books on this list have recipes at the back. For example, I baked “Bout’s Buns” from the book Baker’s Magic by Diane Zahler (pictured below). But you can start with something simple like banana bread or muffins. Here’s a recipe for a no-knead bread that I love. An adult and child can make it together easily!
If you’re not sure about starting from scratch, you can buy frozen bread dough or rolls to thaw out and bake at home.
Head to a bakery and buy some fresh baked buns or a loaf of bread. Maybe buy a few different varieties and have a tasting party.
Make something using bread. Like french toast or bread pudding!
And now, for the list!
Note: Some links will take you to my bookshop.org storefront. Purchasing a book from my storefront will support independent bookstores and help me maintain Read, Discuss, Do at no additional cost to you.
Picture Books
The Only Way to Make Bread by Cristina Quintero, illustrated by Sarah Gonzales
This is a pleasant book about all the different ways that different people make various kinds of bread. This book’s colored pencil illustrations give the book a warm, homey feel–like homemade bread! Young readers will enjoy learning that there is only one way to make bread: your way! This book includes two recipes at the end.
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Maniac Muffins by Chris Monroe
This book is every bit as silly and fun as it sounds. Make one of the muffin recipes at the end (guaranteed not to terrorize the town).
Bread Lab! by Kim Binczewski and Bethany Econopouly, illustrated by Haylin Cho
A lesson in bread making disguised as a story of a young girl and her aunt spending the day cooking together. Try to avoid craving fresh baked bread as you read! Then again, crave all you want and then follow the directions to make bread yourself.
Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
This is a charming book about the cultural and historical significance of fry bread among Native American tribes. The lyrical text and soft illustrations created in part with colored pencils make this book a pleasant and educational read. Includes a recipe for fry bread for you to try!
Still there was Bread by Lisl H. Detlefsen, illustrated by David Soman
This heartwarming, thoughtful book tells about a young boy learning how to make a family recipe from his grandmother. As they bake, Nana shares family stories about the bread, and they talk about how bread is a special staple for people all around the world. This is a great book to introduce young readers (and maybe adults) to the idea of bread baking and how it has changed and stayed the same over the years. The author’s family recipe for “Nana Rolls” is included at the end.
Challah for Shabbat Tonight by Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Alona Millgram
A delightful rhyming read about a young girl making challah with her grandmother for their weekly Shabbat meal. Follow the pair as they make the bread step-by-step, mixing, kneading, and lots of waiting before it’s done! The illustrations beautifully depict not only the story, but each step in making the bread. Try baking challah yourself with the recipe at the back!
Here is a link to some coloring pages and other activities to pair with this charming book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page/ayr-challah-for-shabbat-tonight-assets/#book
Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia, illustrated by Ken Min
In this fun family story, a grandfather tells his grandson Aneel tales of a “mighty lad” from a land far away who got his power from the hot, hot roti his mother made. Aneel wants to know if hot, hot roti can bring the power back to the mighty lad (aka, the grandfather), so he whips up a batch as his family looks on. Read the book to find out if the mighty lad got his powers back.
Rising by Sidura Ludwig and illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy
This book highlights the baking of Challah and observing Shabbat. It has a calm and soothing tone that promotes slowing down and counting your blessings. It also includes a recipe in the back matter.
Punky Aloha written and illustrated by Shar Tuiasoa
This is the story of a lovable little girl who experiences a big adventure and learns to be helpful, giving, and brave. And it all starts with banana bread.
Middle Grade
Baker’s Magic by Diane Zahler (review by Rebecca)
This is a delicious and magical story of baking, adventure, and the meaning of family. Bee is an orphan who gets caught stealing a bun in a moment of desperation, but then the kind-hearted baker makes her his apprentice. Bee settles into a happy life as a baker’s apprentice and soon learns that she’s working magic into her bakes! Then, when her friend (who also happens to be the princess) needs her help, she’s able to use her “baker’s magic” to help save the princess and the kingdom. The descriptions of baked goods—bread in particular—will make you hungry for a fresh baked treat! This story would be great for a family read-aloud to add some warmth and fun to winter evenings. Get the family together to bake Bout’s Buns once you’ve finished the book. There’s a recipe at the back of the book, which I tried out in my own picture. See the pictures and my review of the recipe below.
The Patron Thief of Bread by Lindsay Eagar (review by
)Orphaned as a baby and raised by a ragtag band of thieves known as the Crowns, eight-year-old Duck has only ever known the wild and hungry life of an outlaw. Then one day the Crowns’ leader apprentices Duck to the tough and tender Griselde Baker—part of a long-term scam for bread and coin—and as Duck becomes a part of Griselde’s family, she finds herself torn between the life she’s always known and the security of the home she’s always wanted. Immersive, heartwarming, and satisfying (much like Griselde’s bakery), this book is a great read for middle-grade and up who love an underdog and a dash of intrigue. Not to mention bread!
Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca (review by
)This story combines the magic of baking with the magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a delightful & tasty story. When Mimi enters a baking contest (sponsored by a brand new bakery in town) to keep her occupied for the summer after her best friend moves away and hopefully help her feel important to her Indian family, she finds her tasty treats are causing problems with her family. Boys are falling for one sister & acting ridiculous. Her father can’t stop eating, & her brother loves himself way too much—just like the characters of the play he’s acting in, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With the help of her new friend, Vik, Mimi bakes them out of their craziness… but finds out it wasn’t just her baking, but some fairy magic, that turned everyone’s lives a little crazy. Three sweet recipes full of Indian baking flavors round out this fun read.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks (review by Marci Whitehurst)
Zoe Washington has never met her father, but on her twelfth birthday, she gets a letter from him. He’s incarcerated for a crime he says he never committed. Zoe isn’t sure how to respond, so she decides to find out if her dad is really innocent and uncover the truth–without anyone knowing. As a prolific baker, Zoe lands an internship in a local bakery and enters a baking contest for kids. Her family assumes her stress is coming from the impending bake-off. They have no idea what else she’s working on. This story addresses racial inequity and the justice system, giving opportunity for families to discuss thoughts and beliefs.
“Bout’s Buns” from Baker’s Magic
The “Bout’s Buns” recipe is fairly simple and easy to follow, with basic ingredients that many people already have in their kitchens. And if you don’t usually make yeast breads, then yeast is easy to find in the baking aisle! Because the dough rests in the fridge overnight, it’s very chilled and a little stiff in the morning, so I let mine rest a while to come closer to room temperature before I kneaded it. It also required more than the 1 hour for the buns to rise because my house was a little cool. Putting the buns in the oven with the light on helps, though! Just be sure to take them out of the oven before you preheat it. The buns are basically cinnamon rolls with raisins in them, with some pink icing for a fun touch. They are buttery and sweet, but not overly sweet. Best eaten warm!
Here are some pictures from the baking process:
Now, don’t be intimidated! Go get one of these wonderful books, then do some baking (or frying) of your own! If you do, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!