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Slow Books

Slow Books is a curated list of books and resources that speak to Slow Food values. We hope to connect readers with food writing that inspires thought and discussion about the food you love, diverse food cultures, historical foodways, food justice and the joy of eating.

SLOW Books recommendATIONs

We use bookshop.org to host our booklists; their sales support independent bookstores and give back to Slow Food USA.

Bookshop

THIS MONTH’S RECOMMENDATIONS

May 2024 book selected by Slow Books team member Katie

Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds

by Hetty Lui McKinnon

“This cookbook beautifully weaves personal narrative and almost diary-format memories of the author’s father and family life with veggie-forward recipes that will feed your soul. From the ‘food court omelet’ to the ‘lazy spiced butternut tiramisu” and Cantonese style dishes like “Char Siu style eggplant’ or ‘Lo Bak Gao (‘Turnip’ Cake)’ — all of the recipes in this book evoke the comfort of the memory of a dish (or person) that you love. McKinnon’s father, who passed away when she was 15, worked at a fruit and vegetable wholesale market in Australia, and worked as a waiter part time at a Chinese restaurant on the weekends. While he often kept odd hours because of this work, Hetty’s adjective to describe how she remembers her father is appropriately, tenderheart. These recipes evoke that same feeling, of a warm hug from someone who softens your heart with love and comfort.“

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I LOVE STRAWBERRIES!

By Shannon Anderson

“Jolie loves strawberries. So much so that she could eat them every day. Which leads her on a campaign to convince her skeptical parents to allow her to grow some of her very own in their yard. In a time of year when green things are sprouting all around us – this picture book serves as an adorable reminder that learning about how the things we love grow is at the center of leading a ‘good, clean and fair’ life, not to mention is an inspiring motivator that with passion and dedication, any of us can be up to the challenge of growing our own. If Jolie can do it, so can we!”

 

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Discussion Guides

Explore our 2023 Network Wide Read-Along selection by Elizabeth Acevedo: With the Fire on High.

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Discussion guide

For the 2022 Network-Wide Read-Along, the Slow Books team chose Grist: A Practical Guide to Cooking Grains, Beans, Seeds, and Legumes by Abra Berens. Here are some additional reading materials to enhance your enjoyment of this epic ode to some of our favorite foods.

 

PUBLISHER’S WEBSITE

AUTHOR’S WEBSITE

PURCHASE THE BOOK FROM BOOKSHOP!

In 2021, Slow Books selected Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass as its network-wide read-along for the year. They created a Discussion Guide and revised their Virtual Book Club Toolkit. Watch a video recording of a session where the Slow Books team offered tips on how to host a chapter-wide book club focused on the book.

In 2020, Slow Books hosted a virtual discussion group to discuss How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. The Slow Books Curators developed a trio of discussion guides for the book—A Reading & Discussion Guide, A Moderator’s Guide and a Virtual Book Club Toolkit—so you can host your own discussion group! Download all three here.

Review our reading guide for The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim here.

Suggest a Book

The Slow Food Book Curators

Tammy Maitland

Tammy Maitland

Tammy is a coastal Massachusetts transplant who has been living in the high desert of New Mexico for the past 16 years. She has mainly worked in the field of education, either as a 4th grade teacher, substitute teacher, or environmental educator. In the last few years her love of food has blossomed right along with her growing obsession with books. Tammy has been a board member of Slow Food Albuquerque for about a year. You can find her on Instagram as @quibit_the_cat.
Katie Johnson

Katie Johnson

Katie got involved with the Chicago Slow Food chapter as a blog writer and proceeded to become a chapter leader. While there, she also became the program manager for the chapter’s food book club. Therefore, it’s only fitting that the two worlds of “food” and “books” collide – now holding the title of “librarian” since earning an MLIS, and in helping establish Slow Food Books! You can find out more about Katie on her website or instagram @katydid_katiejohnson. 
Margaret Woodruff

Margaret Woodruff

Margaret Woodruff first learned about Slow Food while researching local foods for library programs at her library in Vermont.  Since that time, she has been part of the Slow Food Vermont board and worked to fold Slow Food initiatives into libraries across the state, including Plant-a-Seed gardens at the Charlotte Library where she serves as director.  Books and food seem like such a natural combination!

To get involved in Slow Food Books as a curator or partner, contact books@slowfoodusa.org