It's America's 250th birthday, and there are so many great ways to celebrate! Have you heard of America's Potluck? On Sunday, July 5th, Americans across the country are invited to celebrate Independence Day with a community potluck. A potluck, where everyone brings dishes to taste and share, is a great way to meet new friends, experience different cuisines, and feel connected to your community. Not sure what to bring? Here are some great books about sharing food to give you some inspiration!
Written by Alexander Smalls and Denene Millner
Illustrated by Frank Morrison
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2025. Picture book.
Sundays are the highlight of young Alexander's whole life. After church, his big family gathers together to cook and enjoy a meal with each other's company. On one special Sunday, Alexander's asks him to whip up a sweet treat to grace the table. This childhood memory from award winning chef Alexander Smalls celebrates the joy of cooking and sharing food. It also includes a recipe for lemon icebox pie.
Written by Eric Adjepong
Illustrated by Lala Watkins
New York: Penguin Workshop, 2023. Picture book.
Kofi can't help but feel nervous when his teacher announces a class potluck. Each child in the class is supposed to bring a dish to represent their culture, but Kofi isn't sure what represents his culture best. His parents and grandfather are immigrants from Ghana, but Kofi was born in America and doesn't feel connected to Ghanaian food. His Nanbarima (grandfather in Twi) takes him to the market and Kofi learns the stories behind different ingredients in his family's Jollof recipe.
Written by Sandhya Parappukkaran
Illustrated by Michelle Pereira
New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture book.
Reshma loves family dinners at home where her family enjoys delicious South Indian cuisine eaten with their hands. But she notices when she has dinner at friends' homes, other people eat with forks or spoons or chopsticks. When her family invites her friends for dinner, she's worried she'll seem different, until her friends come and celebrate in all of their differences together. Includes a recipe for Green Beans Thoran.
Written by Aimee Lucido
Illustrated by Mavisu Demirağ
New York: Beach Lane Books, 2024. Picture book.
In this silly, rhyming picture book, family dinner gets out of hand as each new guest requests a different kind of pasta. It gets sillier and sillier until Mamma shouts "BASTA!" Fun to read aloud (over and over) while still capturing the spirit of a shared meal.
By Melissa Iwai
New York: Norton Young Readers, 2021. Picture book.
Lili loves to make bao with her Nai Nai, but when Nai Nai runs out of cabbage, she sends Lili to borrow some from Babcia on the sixth floor. Babcia is making pierogi and happily shares her cabbage, but asks if Lili can borrow some potatoes from Granma on her behalf. Granma has potatoes, but no garlic for her Jamaican beef patties. So on and on throughout the building, Lili goes searching for ingredients. The story is filled with delicious foods from different cultures and a real sense of community. Especially when all the grandmothers bring their dumpling dishes together for a potluck picnic.
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