Search
New Edmundite Missions children's book series teaches about nutrition
-
November 29, 2023Submitted by
Susan Raymond, Ph.D.
Knights! Fairies! Dragons! Unicorns! Nutrition! Wait! What? Nutrition?
Catholic nonprofit Edmundite Missions in Selma, is carving out new Catholic leadership ground in nutrition education for those with limited reading skills and limited resources. The Missions has created a new children’s book series, "Rumbly Tummy Adventures," whose first volume "Rice to the Rescue!" has just been released.
Rather than lecturing about broccoli or putting posters on the wall, the Missions is using the wonder of childhood storytelling to bring nutrition messages to families in easy to read but exciting ways, encouraging not only healthy eating but also family reading. The books are written at the third-grade level and in rhyme to help young children read and parents and caregivers with low literacy to become engaged as well.
The stories flow from the imagination of twins Nia and Shawn who tell one another stories as they walk through their neighborhood, each adventure involving heroes and heroines who also need lunch! In "Rice to the Rescue!" a princess, weakened because she only has flour in her tower to bake cake, is rescued by a dragon summoned by a fairy and brought a knight on a unicorn to have a lunch of homemade soup. Each volume includes simple recipes, with ingredients that can be bought anywhere (no sprinkling of chives needed!) and cooked with only a microwave or a crockpot.
The picture book is accompanied by an activity book using mazes, coloring and word games to press home the nutrition points.
The series is written by noted children’s book author Etaine Raphael with Edmundite Missions Vice President Susan Raymond, Ph.D., illustrated by Andrea Ketchelmeier, and with recipes developed by Leah Brickley.
Edmundite Missions President and CEO Chad McEachern notes that the Missions has had a leadership commitment to nutrition in the Deep South for more than 85 years, beginning with the work of its founders Fr. Frank Casey S.S.E. and Fr. Barney Paro S.S.E. in 1937.
“Now we are bringing that tradition of Catholic leadership to the betterment of our communities in ways that place our faith and our commitment on the cutting edge of solving the problems of obesity and poor health. As Christ has said, it is the innocence and wonder of small children who will lead us forward," McEachern said.
Rumbly Tummy Adventures can be found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMZY899K/ref and the Activity Book at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKNZJ5Z7/ref
