Jump Into Foods & Fitness: Recommended Book List for Youth

March 27, 2015

This list of books represents just a few of the thousands of books written for young people about nutrition, fitness and food safety. Some of the books in this list already have "AR points" (Accelerated Reader) assigned to them. Some school systems use the Accelerated Reader program to rate books based on grade and reading level. Students read an AR book, then take a brief quiz on it to earn the points assigned to it.

  • Jiff playing basketballThe Animal Boogie, by Debbie Harter (Barefoot Books, 2000) – also available in Spanish
  • April Showers, by George Shannon (Greenwillow Books, 1995)
  • Bananas!, by Jacqueline Farmer (AR 5.5, Charlesbridge Publishing, 1999)
  • A Big Cheese for the White House, by Candace Fleming (DK Publishing Inc., 1999)
  • Boy, Can He Dance, by Eileen Spinelli (AR 3.3, Aladdin Paperbacks, 1993)
  • Burger and the Hotdog, by Jim Aylesworth and Stephen Gammell (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001)
  • The Busy Body Book: A Kid’s Guide to Fitness, by Lizzy Rockwell (Random House, 2004)
  • Carla’s Sandwich, by Debbie Herman (Flashlight Press, 2004) – also available in Spanish
  • Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett (AR 4.3, Scholastic Inc., 1978)
  • Get Moving: Tips on Exercise (Your Health), by Kathy Feeney (AR 3.3, Bridgestone Books, 2006)
  • Good Enough to Eat: A Kid's Guide to Food and Nutrition, by Lizzy Rockwell (AR 4.2, Harper Collins Publishers, 1999)
  • Icy Watermelon, by Mary Sue Galindo (AR 2.9, Pinata Books, 2001) – also available in Spanish
  • The Monster Health Book: A Guide to Eating Healthy, Being Alive and Feeling Great for Monsters and Kids!, by Edward Miller (Maple Tree Press, 2006)
  • The Peanut Butter Jam, by Elizabeth Sussman Nassau (Health Press, 2001)
  • Pickles to Pittsburg, by Judi Barrett (Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 1997)
  • Rattlesnake Dance, by Jim Arnosky (AR 2.8, Scholastic Inc., 2001)
  • The Runaway Tortilla, by Eric A. Kimmel (AR 3.2, Winslow Press, 2000)
  • The Seven Silly Eaters, by Mary Ann Hoberman (AR 4.5, Scholastic Inc., 1997)
  • The Story of Johnny Appleseed, by Aliki (AR 3.9, Trumpet Club, 1989)
  • The Unbeatable Bread, by Lyn Littlefield Hoopes (AR 4.0, Dial Books for Young Readers, 1996)

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