Close Modal
0 0
Download high-resolution image Look inside

Lunch from Home

Author Joshua David Stein
Illustrated by Jing Li
Contributions by Niki Russ Federman, Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, Mina Park
Look inside
Hardcover
$18.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Rise x Penguin Workshop
8.99"W x 11.25"H x 0.4"D   | 17 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Aug 30, 2022 | 40 Pages | 9780593384459
Age 3-6 years | Up to Kindergarten
Reading Level: Lexile AD620L | Fountas & Pinnell M
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
What happens when a child’s favorite packed lunch is met with disparaging comments at the school lunch table?

In a classroom of sandwiches, four students stand out with their homemade, culturally-specific lunches. But before they can dig in and enjoy their favorite foods, their lunches are spoiled by scrunched noses and disgusted reactions from their sandwich-eating classmates.
 
Follow each of the four students as they learn to cope with their first “lunch box moments” in this picture book that encourages empathy and inspires all readers to stand up for their food! Inspired by the “lunch box moments” of four acclaimed chefs, Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, Mina Park, and Niki Russ Federman, this heartwarming story reminds us all that one’s food is a reflection of self and an authentic celebration of culture.
-Skipping Stones Honor Award - Multicultural & International - (2023)

-Notable Social Studies Trade Book -- National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council (2023)

-Amazon Best Book (2022)

"[Lunch From Home] touches on positive portrayals of diversity and inclusiveness and appreciating the connections between food, culture, and family traditions; the four kids in this story are based on real people, each of whom is a professional chef, which adds meaningful weight to their experiences. Bright, naturalistic art vibrantly depicts the kids in the classroom and, of course, their delicious-looking lunches." -- Booklist

"[The] meals are lovingly described by Stein and depicted in vibrant color by Li in this epicurean picture book." -- Publishers Weekly

"[A] layered tale about peer pressure and cultural pride around the lunch table." -- San Francisco Chronicle
Joshua David Stein is a journalist, author, and editor. He has served as the editor at large at Fatherly and Out magazines, the editor in chief of BlackBook and Avenue, and the senior editor at Departures. His work has appeared in The New York Times, New York, Esquire, GQ, Hemispheres, among many other publications. Previously, Stein was the restaurant critic for the Village Voice and the New York Observer. He is the co-author of Notes from a Young Black Chef with Kwame Onwuachi; Il Buco: Stories & Recipes with Donna Lennard; the Nom Wah Cookbook: Recipes and Stories with Wilson Tang; Why I Cook? with Tom Colicchio; and Vino: The Essential Guide with Joe Campanale. His children’s books include, among others, Can I Eat That?, What’s Cooking, Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture, Solitary Animals, and Lunch from Home. He currently lives in Brooklyn with his two sons, Augustus and Achilles. View titles by Joshua David Stein
Jing Li View titles by Jing Li

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

About

What happens when a child’s favorite packed lunch is met with disparaging comments at the school lunch table?

In a classroom of sandwiches, four students stand out with their homemade, culturally-specific lunches. But before they can dig in and enjoy their favorite foods, their lunches are spoiled by scrunched noses and disgusted reactions from their sandwich-eating classmates.
 
Follow each of the four students as they learn to cope with their first “lunch box moments” in this picture book that encourages empathy and inspires all readers to stand up for their food! Inspired by the “lunch box moments” of four acclaimed chefs, Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, Mina Park, and Niki Russ Federman, this heartwarming story reminds us all that one’s food is a reflection of self and an authentic celebration of culture.

Praise

-Skipping Stones Honor Award - Multicultural & International - (2023)

-Notable Social Studies Trade Book -- National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council (2023)

-Amazon Best Book (2022)

"[Lunch From Home] touches on positive portrayals of diversity and inclusiveness and appreciating the connections between food, culture, and family traditions; the four kids in this story are based on real people, each of whom is a professional chef, which adds meaningful weight to their experiences. Bright, naturalistic art vibrantly depicts the kids in the classroom and, of course, their delicious-looking lunches." -- Booklist

"[The] meals are lovingly described by Stein and depicted in vibrant color by Li in this epicurean picture book." -- Publishers Weekly

"[A] layered tale about peer pressure and cultural pride around the lunch table." -- San Francisco Chronicle

Author

Joshua David Stein is a journalist, author, and editor. He has served as the editor at large at Fatherly and Out magazines, the editor in chief of BlackBook and Avenue, and the senior editor at Departures. His work has appeared in The New York Times, New York, Esquire, GQ, Hemispheres, among many other publications. Previously, Stein was the restaurant critic for the Village Voice and the New York Observer. He is the co-author of Notes from a Young Black Chef with Kwame Onwuachi; Il Buco: Stories & Recipes with Donna Lennard; the Nom Wah Cookbook: Recipes and Stories with Wilson Tang; Why I Cook? with Tom Colicchio; and Vino: The Essential Guide with Joe Campanale. His children’s books include, among others, Can I Eat That?, What’s Cooking, Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture, Solitary Animals, and Lunch from Home. He currently lives in Brooklyn with his two sons, Augustus and Achilles. View titles by Joshua David Stein
Jing Li View titles by Jing Li

Other Books by this Author

Related Articles

Penguin Random House Retail

© 2025 Penguin Random House

Back to Top
0
    • 0
    Wish List (0)