Family Activities

At Second Harvest, our mission goes beyond distributing food across our 16-county service area. We’re also working hard to end the stigma around seeking food support. Talking to kids about hunger doesn’t have to be scary or uncomfortable. In fact, open conversations can help children understand food insecurity and grow empathy for others.

To support families, we’ve put together a collection of resources, including children’s book recommendations and fun coloring sheets, to make these conversations approachable and meaningful. Explore these materials with your family and help nurture understanding in the next generation. You can find these books at your local library, favorite bookstore, or online at BookShop.org.


Book Recommendations

lulu and the hunger monster book cover
Lulu and the Hunger Monster by Erik Talkin

Lulu and the Hunger Monster by Erik Talkin

When Lulu’s mother’s van breaks down, money for food becomes tight and the Hunger Monster comes into their lives. Only visible to Lulu, Hunger Monster is a troublemaker who makes it hard for her to concentrate in school. How will Lulu help her mom and defeat the Monster when Lulu has promised never to speak the monster’s name to anyone? 

This realistic–and hopeful–story of food insecurity builds awareness of the issue of childhood hunger, increases empathy for people who are food insecure, and demonstrates how anyone can help end hunger. Lulu and the Hunger Monster(TM) empowers children to destigmatize the issue of hunger before the feeling turns into shame. 

saturday at the food pantry book cover
Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neill

Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neill

Molly and her mom don’t always have enough food, so one Saturday they visit their local food pantry. Molly’s happy to get food to eat until she sees her classmate Caitlin, who’s embarrassed to be at the food pantry. Can Molly help Caitlin realize that everyone needs help sometimes? 

our little kitchen book cover
Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki

Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki

Tie on your apron! Roll up your sleeves! Pans are out, oven is hot, the kitchen’s all ready! Where do we start? 

A lively celebration of food and community from Caldecott honoree Jillian Tamaki, this lively, rousing picture book tells the story of a crew of resourceful neighbors who come together to prepare a meal for their community. 

With a garden abundant with produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen, and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of full bellies and looking out for one another. 

 

maddis fridge book cover
Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt

Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt

With humor and warmth, this children’s picture book raises awareness about poverty and hunger. Best friends Sofia and Maddi live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and play in the same park, but while Sofia’s fridge at home is full of nutritious food, the fridge at Maddi’s house is empty. Sofia learns that Maddi’s family doesn’t have enough money to fill their fridge and promises Maddi she’ll keep this discovery a secret. But because Sofia wants to help her friend, she’s faced with a difficult decision: to keep her promise or tell her parents about Maddi’s empty fridge. Filled with colorful artwork, this storybook addresses issues of poverty with honesty and sensitivity while instilling important lessons in friendship, empathy, trust, and helping others. A call to action section, with six effective ways for children to help fight hunger and information on anti-hunger groups, is also included. 

 

Harvest Wagon of Hope by Boar and Family Books

Harvest Wagon of Hope by Boar and Family Books

In their ninth heartwarming tale, Cindy and Gus Gee continue their cherished tradition of storytelling with ‘Boar and Family.’  This time, the Gee children and their classmates embark on an enlightening journey through the world of food insecurities. With grace and charm, the authors weave a narrative that teaches young readers the importance of helping others and reassures them that seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of.


free lunch graphic
Free Lunch by Rex Ogle

Free Lunch by Rex Ogle

Instead of giving him lunch money, Rex’s mom has signed him up for free meals. As a poor kid in a wealthy school district, better-off kids crowd impatiently behind him as he tries to explain to the cashier that he’s on the free meal program. The lunch lady is hard of hearing, so Rex has to shout. 

Free Lunch is the story of Rex’s efforts to navigate his first semester of sixth grade–who to sit with, not being able to join the football team, Halloween in a handmade costume, classmates and a teacher who take one look at him and decide he’s trouble–all while wearing secondhand clothes and being hungry. His mom and her boyfriend are out of work, and life at home is punctuated by outbursts of violence. Halfway through the semester, his family is evicted and ends up in government-subsidized housing in view of the school. Rex lingers at the end of last period every day until the buses have left, so no one will see where he lives. 

Unsparing and realistic, Free Lunch is a story of hardship threaded with hope and moments of grace. Rex’s voice is compelling and authentic, and Free Lunch is a true, timely, and essential work that illuminates the lived experience of poverty in America. 


Find your local library

Bridges Library System – Jefferson County 

Monarch Library System – Dodge County 

Prairie Lakes Library System – Rock County 

South Central Library System – Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green and Sauk Counties 

Southwest Wisconsin Library System – Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Richmond Counties 

Winding Rivers Library System – Juneau, Monroe and Vernon Counties 

author avatar
Kris Tazelaar