When my middle son was 18 months old, we discovered that he had a dairy intolerance. I had to learn how to read labels for hidden sources of milk, and figure out how to alter some of our favorite dishes. However, the biggest challenge was trying to explain to my little guy why he could no longer have some of his most-loved foods.

Food allergies can be hard to navigate, and some kids can even be embarrassed by the fact that they can’t eat the same things as their friends. These books will help allergic and non-allergic kids understand the severity of a food allergy, and will help those with dietary restrictions understand that they aren’t the only ones with this struggle.

If you’re sending a food allergic child to school, one of these titles would make a great classroom gift!

6 Books About Food Allergies for Kids

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Book links are Amazon referral links.

The Princess and the Peanut Allergy by Wendy McClure — Paula is really excited to attend her friend Regina’s birthday party…until she learns that Regina’s cake will contain nuts. Regina has a hard time understanding why Paula can’t attend her party, and the two girls end up fighting. Reading a familiar story helps Regina have a change of heart.

The Peanut-Free Cafe by Gloria Koster — Simon and his classmates at the Nutley School looooove peanut butter! But when a new student arrives with a peanut allergy, things have to change. A Peanut-Free Cafe is created as a fun place for students to eat and hang out, as long as their lunch is nut-free. All the same, Simon has a hard time letting go of his favorite food.

The No Biggie Bunch Series by Heather Mehra and Kerry McManama — How cool is this? A whole series for kids around the topic of food allergies. This excellent collection of books helps kids with allergies navigate real-life situations that involve food, and are great conversation starters.

The Peanut Butter Jam by Elizabeth Sussman Nassau — Sam’s class is making bird feeders, and he’s excited…until he realizes the class will be using peanut butter to make the seeds stick. Sam is stuck in a sticky situation, and he has to find his way out. This book includes some excellent information for parents and teachers about food allergies.

Horace and Morris Say Cheese (Which Makes Dolores Sneeze!) by James Howe — Horace, Morris, and Dolores are three mice who love cheese, and they can’t wait for the Everything Cheese festival to come to town. But Dolores is heartbroken when she finds out she has developed an allergy to cheese! At first she’s upset that she has to eat different things from her friends, but she soon learns that trying new things can be fun. This was a regular read for us when my middle son was younger!

The Peanut Pickle by Jessica Jacobs — Ben is very allergic to peanuts, and he used to be scared to tell others about his allergy. Now that Ben is older, he realizes that it’s ok to talk about it, and that the people in his life want to keep him safe. This book is a great tool for helping kids overcome awkward feelings about their allergy, and teaches them it’s not impolite to make people aware that a certain food is dangerous for them.