Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
11/5/98
Note to editors: This is intended for use during National Children's Book Week November 16-22, but may be used anytime.
Contacts:
Elisabeth Schafer, Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515)
294-1359
Diane Nelson, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-3178
Eating, Reading and 'Rithmetric
AMES, Iowa--"Two important things that parents can teach their children are a love of reading and a love for healthy foods," said Iowa State University Extension nutritionist Elisabeth Schafer. "Parents set the example in both of these beneficial habits by their own behavior. But another way that parents can help their children develop these two valuable skills is by reading books together that focus on foods."
Schafer and Carol Elbert, youth services coordinator at Ames Public Library, have created a list of books about food in honor of National Children's Book Week (Nov. 16-22). "Books about food can reinforce parental teaching and can help children understand the choices they are learning to make. The books about food in our list are variously informative, humorous and fun," Schafer said.
"Reading a story can be a way for a parent and a child to laugh and talk together," said Elbert. "A story might provide an opportunity to talk about eating habits or to encourage trying new foods."
"Foods are a familiar and favorite topic for children's books," said Pat Anderson, ISU Extension nutrition and health field specialist. "Books serve as good discussion starters to expand children's interest in eating a wide variety of foods."
Choosing a book for a child to read isn't the easiest thing to do. Elbert offers some simple advice, "Very young children are attracted to brightly colored pictures and respond well to simple texts and rhythms. Preschool aged children enjoy nursery rhymes and when it comes to older children, it's OK to choose a book that's beyond the child's reading level. It can be read to him or her now, and independently later on."
"Reading enriches the mind and imagination and opens up a window on the world," said Schafer. "Healthy eating strengthens the mind and body so that the child can meet life with vigor, confidence and enthusiasm."
The time-honored tradition of National Children's Book Week started in 1919 and has been sponsored by the Children's Book Council, a non-profit trade organization, since 1945. Council membership is traditionally composed of U.S. children's trade book publishers, and since 1996 it also has included children's book packagers and producers of book-related multimedia products for children.
SIDEBAR
Eating, Reading and 'Rithmetic (N-3617) is available from the ISU Extension Distribution Center, 119 Printing and Publications, Ames, Iowa 50011, and from county extension offices. It's also available electronically from ISU Extension food and nutrition publication pages at URL: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/pubs/Food.html. You'll find it under the heading "Feeding Children."
If you don't have Acrobat Reader you will need to follow the instructions for downloading the free software at the PDF help section. If you have Acrobat Reader, you can go directly to the fact sheet at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/N3617.pdf
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