Food and Book Pairings for a Kids’ Book Club: Snacks Make Reading More Fun

Book clubs can be just as rewarding for kids as they are for adults.

Meeting regularly to talk about books – and to make friends and eat good food – is a great outlet for kids of all reading levels, from emerging readers to teens. And kids don’t have to love reading to be part of a book club. In fact, reluctant readers may begin to enjoy reading more if there are snacks and fun involved.

One of the nice things about a book club is that it holds us accountable, making sure we’re on track in our reading lives. The same goes for kids! When kids know they’re going to be asked about the book, they’re more likely to pay attention. The incentives of drinks and treats are also a good motivator.

Here are some ideas for food-book pairings for your kids’ own book clubs!

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

This spooky book is a fun one to read around Halloween. Perfect for upper elementary school kids, this ghost story will get your heart pumping but without any horror.

There are so many great choices for food here: pumpkin stew, turkey-apple paninis, caramel apples. Kids will also like these classic hot dogs with chili. The chili here is much thicker than a soup chili, making it perfect for a hot dog topping.

Chili Dogs

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 ½ tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal

1. Warm oil in a Dutch oven. Sauté onion and garlic until tender. Add ground beef, cooking until browned. Use a potato masher or meat masher to chop the meat into small pieces. Drain grease.
2. Add chili powder, sugar, salt, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce and cornmeal. Stir to combine, then simmer 20-30 minutes on medium-low heat.
3. Serve over warm hot dogs in toasted buns. Top with grated cheddar cheese.

Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell

Even little children can be part of a book club! Kids will love this simple story about a pumpkin and how it changes after it’s carved. It gives all the fall feels – crunching leaves, crisp air – and takes you into the next seasons as we learn what happens to the pumpkin. This is a great picture book for understanding the life cycle of a plant.

Parents will need to help with the food processor, but kids can help add everything to the bowl. Serve this pumpkin hummus with crackers and veggies – and include a piece of cucumber at the top of your serving bowl to make a stem.

Pumpkin Hummus

• 2 cans chickpeas, drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

1. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. If mixture seems too thick, you can add more olive oil.

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

This heartwarming story of a young girl who is orphaned and living with her uncle is great for kids in third to fifth grade. One fun aspect of the book is the girl’s favorite restaurant, The Girl in the Swing, where everything – even lasagna – is served on a waffle.

Go with the waffle theme for this book club choice. You can set up a waffle station, making hot waffles for the kids while they choose from toppings including whipped cream, chocolate chips, sliced apples, poached eggs or syrup. The sky’s the limit!

Family Favorite Waffles

Makes 10 to 12 waffles

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cups warm milk
• ⅓ cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside. Preheat waffle iron to medium-high heat.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla.
3. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture, beating until blended.
4. Ladle the batter into the preheated waffle iron. Cook until golden and crisp.

Henry, Like Always by Jenn Bailey

This is a great book for teaching empathy and understanding for friends on the autism spectrum. It provides both a mirror and a window for kids reading the story of Henry, who doesn’t love everything about school, especially when it’s too loud or when things don’t go as planned. It’s a good book for beginning readers, and a good choice for allowing discussion at a book club.

An apple pie pizza is a fun food for book club. You may want to first serve a simple dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches, or set out a kids’ charcuterie with pretzels, grapes, cheese and crackers before bringing out this fun dessert. 

Apple Pie Pizza

• 1 (12-inch) pizza crust
• 1 (20-ounce) can apple pie filling
• ½ cup quick oats
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ½ stick butter, room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pizza crust on ungreased baking sheet.
2. Pour pie filling into a small bowl. Use kitchen shears to chop up the apples into smaller pieces. Spread over pizza crust, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge.
3. Place oats, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl, stirring to combine. Cut butter into small pieces, then use two forks or a pastry cutter to cut butter into flour mixture until crumbly.
4. Sprinkle streusel over top of pie filling. Bake about 25 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
5. Make glaze by combining powdered sugar and milk, stirring until smooth. Add more milk if too thick. Drizzle glaze over apple pizza once it’s out of the oven and slightly cooled.

Tips for a Kids’ Book Club

Keep it short:

Book club shouldn’t last more than an hour.

Have questions ready:

You don’t want awkward silence. If the kids are having trouble getting started, have some questions about the book at the ready.

Mix it up:

Choose a funny book one month, a mystery the next, and maybe a biography or nonfiction another month.

Play a game:

A quick round of Go Fish or another fun game is a good ice breaker as you’re waiting on all your guests.

Set some rules:

You don’t have to be too serious about it, but setting some ground rules can be really helpful for book club first-timers. Let them know it’s important to respect other people’s opinions and to let everyone have a turn to share their thoughts on the book.

Natalie Mikles is a mom of three. She writes about food, sharing recipes for busy families and picky eaters. She has been recognized for her food columns as well as features on families and issues affecting local children. Natalie loves pizza and movie nights with her family.