One of my favourite aspects of the Big, Little Concepts series put out by Pajama Press is the educational material for caregivers included in each book.
For Bunny Loves Beans, the extension material supports caregivers as they introduce children to a rainbow of healthy, delicious foods in fun and engaging ways.
As the mother of a very selective eater (a term I much prefer to the old expression “picky eater”, as, like so many children, my son’s food aversions are largely motivated by sensory processing challenges), I’ve always sought out new ways to help my child build comfort with new and different foods, especially those that might have unfamiliar textures, colors or aromas.
To quote Daniel Tiger, “When we do something new, let’s talk about what we’ll do”, and that applies to new foods, too! Reading books about different foods, talking about where they come from and the different ways they help our bodies grow and be healthy, and looking at other kids and even animals enjoying those foods, can all help children become more confident when it comes to expanding their diets.
Now, I’m certainly not going to claim that reading Bunny Loves Beans with your child is going to magically turn them into adventurous omnivores – if it were that easy to overcome the challenges of selective eating, I’d be a millionaire! But as a caregiver I know I always appreciate any suggestions or support, and every little bit helps!
I hope my adorable cast of eaters can help you and your loved ones explore all the delicious, nutritious treats nature has to offer!
You can order Bunny Loves Beans at your preferred bookseller, or check it out from your local library! Enjoy!