I'm always in awe of the extreme talent that exists in our community. Ryan Miller, Orangevale resident, reached out to us this summer to share the release of his new children's book How to Feed Your Parents. I couldn't be more excited to share it with our Macaroni Kid community!
As soon as I took the book out from the mailer, my daughter peeked at the cover and shrieked saying, "Mamma, can we please read that book tonight?". The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and full of expression. My 7-year-old was fully engaged in taking in the images, which in themselves tell the story, as we took turns reading each page.
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Inspired by his young children’s love of cooking and food prep, the picture book tells the story of Matilda Macaroni, who longs to taste exotic dishes. However, her mom and dad refuse to eat anything but noodles, nuggets, burgers, and pizza. Undaunted, Matilda works with her grandma and babysitter to learn kitchen safety and globally inspired recipes. Ultimately, she inspires her parents to expand their palate.
Adults can appreciate the irony that the parents are the picky eaters in this story. Children will relate to Matilda and appreciate her willingness to try new foods, despite being discouraged by her parents. My daughter certainly admired Matilda's initiative to learn to cook and asked immediately if she too could learn to cook.
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This adorable picture book shares several subtle lessons:
- A child can make a difference.
- Don't be afraid to try new things, you just might like them.
- Practice makes perfect.
- Kitchen safety is important.
- Veggies can be yummy.
- Children should ask babysitters or grown-ups for help when trying new things.
- When parents are unreasonable, just be patient.
- There is a wide range of delicious ethnic dishes out there waiting for you to try them.
I LOVE the fact that the family's last name is MACARONI! How perfect is that? You and your children will definitely enjoy this book. You'll appreciate the fun bonus in the back, a full quiche recipe that every member of Ryan’s family—including his wife and three children (ages 5, 9, and 11)—worked together to create. Reading How to Feed Your Parents and baking the quiche will be the perfect way to address picky eating in your family.
You can find How to Feed Your Parents on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
 | About the author: When Ryan Miller was 4, he declared he wanted to be a writer and that he didn't like onions, raw tomatoes, mushrooms, and most types of meat. Ryan Miller grew up in Rosemont, CA and later attended Sacramento High School. He then studied journalism at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and began writing professionally also discovering that he actually enjoyed just about everything on his "will not eat" list. How to Feed Your Parents is his first book to be published. After 18 years, he once again lives in the Sacramento area with his wife, three children, dog, and a small flock of egg-laying hens. Ryan still does not like raw tomatoes, but he promises to try them every so often to see if that changes. For more information, call Ryan Miller at 805.458.6639 or email ryan.miller.writer@gmail.com. Visit howtofeedyourparents.com |
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