Book Nook: I Don't Like to Eat Ants

I recently had a chance to read I Don't Like to Eat Ants by JTK Belle. This is a great book for any parent who wants to encourage their kids to try new foods.

In the book, two anteaters talk about eating ants. Anteater One doesn't like ants and tells Anteater Two about all the wonderful foods he tries - and eventually treats him to a sandwich. The lesson is easy for kids to get - you don't know what you like until you take a chance.

I had a chance to interview Jeff Belle to learn more about encouraging kids to try new things.

Why did you decide to write this book?

In our family, my daughter Katie is the adventurous eater and my son, Tom, is the not-so-adventurous eater. The book echoes many conversations we’ve had around the dinner table. When we did a little research about how to get picky eaters to try new foods, the best advice we found was to explain why a well-rounded diet is important, and then involve your child in coming up with a solution. Tom’s solution was blending veggies into smoothies, which had worked pretty well. My solution was to work with him and Katie on a book about it. 

How can books encourage kids to try something new?

Kids at this age respond to positive messages, especially if they are fun and not too-preachy. Rhyming and great imagery help. The most important thing for a book with a message is that it presents that message in a relatable way that parents and their kids can discuss together. 

What are other tips you've heard to encourage kids to try new things?

Start early. Introduce a variety of foods as soon as possible and don’t give up. Present it in different ways, but don’t be overbearing about it. Just keep mixing it up and try again. And don’t negotiate. Explain why it’s important and ask them to help you come up with a solution. Kids like problem solving. 

The family of authors known as JTK Belle—father Jeffrey and his children Tommy and Katie—founded Picklefish Press in 2017. Their previous works include Freeda the Cheetah, Katherine’s Bike was Wonderfully Strange, and Tommy O’Tom in a Tub O’ Trouble. Katie and Tommy both are passionate about nonprofit work, as Katie raises funds for pediatric cancer research, and Tommy focuses his philanthropic efforts toward wildlife conservation. Jeff currently works for Amazon Publishing. The family resides in Seattle.