Y is for Yucky Yummy: Library Notes

This is a simple book, that was DEFINITELY a favourite in the preschool class where I was working. They LOVED this book and had it read to them multiple times a day.  This humorous book by Leslie Patricelli contrasts yummy food items to other things children may try to eat that are yucky. 

It is great for young ones to animatedly discuss what we should NOT be eating, like blue crayons, sand and worms.  For some children with sensory issues or pica, the yucky items may not seem yucky to them but the book will reinforce that there are items we really should not be putting into our mouths in a fun, objective manner without the reactive responses that come when we see these things being eaten!

It is great for articulation practice such as Do you eat soap or soup? Do we eat burgers or boogers?

It is great for gaining early practice with commenting.  Is an apple pie yummy? Is a mud pie yucky? You can work on the "y" sound with yucky or yummy replies, on yes/no responses, or on sounds like 'mmm' vs 'ewww' to suggest a few ideas.

You can discuss what makes spaghetti different from worms...after all, they can look similar!  Or discuss the difference between eating chocolate sauce and hot sauce. Compare and contrast is a part of this book.

The book can lead to a search around the room to locate things that are yummy or yucky for us.  Just be sure to clearly teach that while some yucky things may just taste bad, others are truly dangerous/posionous and we should never put things into our mouth!  

Of course, the book also highlights a number of yummy foods.  Maybe they are your child's favourites but maybe it is something they were not willing to try before and this book will give them a nudge to try out this 'yummy' food.  There are additional yummy suggestions at the back.  Maybe your child would like to make up their own page of yummy foods.  They could draw the items or cut and paste from packages or flyers.

In a text to world connection, my boys showed me a video of a child who tried 20 random items and was asked if each item was yummy or yucky.  The child would be offered a dill pickle, a donut, a herring, a strawberry, a chicken heart, a clove, a lychee...various random items.  The expressions on the child's face were priceless and the overall conclusion was that most foods are yummy.

Perhaps this book and/or a video like that one will inspire your child to try a new food, to branch out and get a taste of the world's cuisines!  After all, skill building includes learning to be flexible, courageous in new situations, and enthusiastic to explore new opportunities!

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