Benji Bean Sprout Doesn't Eat Meat! Written and illustrated by Sarah Rudy. SK Publishing, 2004. Because Benji does not eat meat, his classmates tease him. Benji tells his parents he'd like to eat a hamburger. But after his parents take him to visit a farm, Benji changes his mind. His mother brings a vegetarian meal to school and Benji talks to his class about the farm animals he met. Benji's classmates like the food and stop teasing him. A great story. Fiction picture book. (paperback) Interest level: Grades 1-4.

Benny Brontosaurus Goes to a Party! Story by Ray Ortega, written by Lauren Everett Farnsworth and illustrated by Sarah Rudy. SK Publishing, 2005. Benny, a herbivore, attends a party where he explains why he does not eat eggs or drink milk. When they arrive at Dino King, Benny is relieved to find a nut burger on the menu. Fiction picture book. (paperback) Interest level: Grades 1-4.

Hubert the Pudge: a Vegetarian Tale. Written and illustrated by Henrik Drescher. Candlewick Press, 2006. 40 pages. Hubert escapes from the factory farm during their annual cleaning. Once outside in a natural setting, Hubert grows and grows until he is becomes a giant. Although happy to be free, Hubert cannot stop thinking about his doomed friends and cries a river of tears. Hubert summons up his courage and all of his jungle friends, and together they march to the factory farm. There is a happy ending-even for the farmer. An excellent read-aloud choice. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-3.

That's Why We Don't Eat Animals. Written and illustrated by Ruby Roth. North Atlantic Books, 2009. 48 pages. Publisher's summary: Colorful illustrations and text introduce readers to vegetarianism and veganism by describing various animals in their natural habitat. Noniction picture book. Interest level: Grades 2-6.

Victor, the Vegetarian: Saving Little Lambs. Written by Radha Vignola. Illustrated by Julia Bauer. AVIVA!, 1994. Victor, a boy who lives on a farm with his parents, realizes he doesn't want to eat lamb chops and runs away with his lambs to save their lives. Fiction picture book. (paperback) Interest level: Grades 1-3.

Victor's Picnic With the Vegetarian Animals. Written by Radha Vignola. Illustrated by Julia Bauer. AVIVA!, 1996. On his way back from the library carrying a backpack full of vegetarian cookbooks, Victor stops to rest and dreams about eating lunch with many vegetarian animals. Fiction picture book. (paperback) Interest level: Grades 1-3.

Farm Sanctuary and United Poultry Concerns both sell a number of excellent children's books about farm animals. Visit them to learn how you can help farm animals.

Click here to read Farm Sanctuary farm animal stories and here to visit their Kidz Club.

Vegetarian Lessons and Links:

To introduce students to vegetarianism, use the Vegetarian Resource Group's lesson.

Your Food Lesson for grades K-2, from the United Federation of Teachers.

Exploring Good Food Habits Lesson for grades 2-3, from the United Federation of Teachers.

Studying Human Nutrition Lesson for grade 6, from the United Federation of Teachers.

For Farm Sanctuary's Cultivating Compassion lesson plans (grades 3-12), click here.

New York Coalition for Healthy School Food has found that healthy plant based foods plus exercise equals better health (and attendance), better grades and better behavior. Read their School food 101 report.

The Healthy School Lunch Campaign is sponsored by the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine and provides an annual school lunch report card.

CHOICE has lesson plans to promote plant foods for grades K-3, 4-6 , 7-8, and 9-12. And click here to order the "Impact of Fresh Healthy Food on Learning and Behavior 2004."

Help! My Child Stopped Eating Meat! An A-Z Guide to Surviving a Conflict in Diets. by Carol J. Adams.Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004. Comprehensive parental guide that addresses parent-child conflicts over diet, family and emotional issues, nutrition, philosophy and peer-relationships, and practical issues. The final chapter is full of recipes the whole family will love!

Visit the Humane myth Web site, a site dedicated to working to create a just and nonviolent future while exposing the" humane myth" - the idea that it is possible to use and kill animals in a respectful or compassionate or humane manner.

Click here to order a free Vegan Starter Kit from In Defense of Animals.

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