"What is chocolate made of?"
When asked this question, even adults are surprisingly unable to answer. The fact that there is a fruit called cocoa, that it grows in a distant country, and that it becomes that grain after dozens of processes——。 Chocolate is actually the "entrance to social studies".
There are 7 chocolate picture books related to learning and knowledge. Although the number is small compared to the 21 narrative works, the information density of each book is dense. When you know the other side of "delicious", your child's world will surely expand.
On this page, we will introduce learning and knowledge chocolate picture books divided into three types according to the depth of "desire to know".
"If you want to know more about chocolate picture books, click here"→ "Chocolate Picture Book Recommendation Complete Guide"
Choose a learning and knowledge chocolate picture book based on "depth of wanting to know"
Even if they deal with the same "how to make chocolate", the depth is completely different depending on the book.
A book that responds to the first "why?" Focusing on photos and illustrations, it shows the process of making chocolate in a simple way. It can be enjoyed from around 4 years old.
A book that connects with the world. The country where cacao grows, the lives of the people who make it, and fair trade. It is a book that looks at society and the world with chocolate as the entrance.
A book that adults can also read. A work that goes beyond the boundaries of children's use, delving into scientific perspectives and cultural backgrounds. This is the type that everyone from elementary school students to adults will want to keep on hand for a long time.
Chocolate picture book that responds to the first "why?" (3 works)
This is a book that gently accepts the "I want to know" of children who have begun to be interested in chocolate.
"Why chocolate is delicious"|Written and illustrated: Solder Nodoka|Knowledge picture book to learn from cacao
Publisher: Alice Hall / First edition publication date: February 10, 2010
"Kaka" and "Pod" will teach you the process of turning cacao into chocolate!
Po Chip
From cocoa farms in Africa to factories and then to stores. The cacao fruit characters "Kaka" and "Podo" act as guides, and this is a knowledge picture book that teaches you the journey to making chocolate in a fun and easy-to-understand way. The story is tailored to make it exciting even for small children, and can be enjoyed by everyone from 4 years old to adults. This is a book where you are sure to find new discoveries in the chocolate that is close to you.
It has a solid element of learning, and is perfect not only for reading aloud but also for intellectual education! It is also recommended as an entrance to SDGs and fair trade.
"How can you make chocolate"|Photo: Kosuke Tamura Supervision: Dandelion Chocolate Japan Co., Ltd.|Touch to Shizen! Series
Publisher: Hisakata Child / First edition publication date: January 19, 2023
Follow the process from cacao to chocolate bars with a wealth of photos and tricks!
Po Chip
This is a photo picture book that takes you step by step from the raw material cacao to the chocolate bar using a wealth of photos and a screen. With accurate information supervised by Dandelion Chocolate Japan, you can experience the wonder of how the ingredients change and become food. The content is also eye-catching for social work, and is also used as a teaching material for food education.
The gesture screen attracts the child's interest. The realistic photos of the actual workshop are attractive.
"Chocolate Daisuki"|Photography: Mariko Furushima Supervision: Hisashi Onishi|Photo picture book with cacao story + handmade recipes
Publisher: Hisakata Child / First edition publication date: January 2009
From the story of cacao, the raw material for chocolate, to handmade recipes!
Po Chip
This picture book begins with the story of cacao, the raw material for chocolate, and introduces the process of making chocolate with easy-to-understand photos. In the second half, there are also recipes for handmade chocolates that are easy for children to make, so you can enjoy learning and practice in one book. It is a photo picture book with both knowledge and recipes, and it is a great value photo picture book.
It contains both learning and recipes, so it's perfect for preparing homemade chocolate for Valentine's Day!
Chocolate picture book that connects with the world (2 works)
With chocolate as an entrance, this book focuses on the countries where cacao grows, the lives of the people who make it, and the mechanism of fair trade.
"Until the chocolate is made"|Composition/Text: Shoko Miyazaki Photo: Kiyoyuki Shiramatsu|Picture Book Navi Platinum Book Certification
Publisher: Iwasaki Shoten / First edition publication date: January 27, 2015
A photo picture book that follows the process of cocoa beans "replaced" into chocolate.
Po Chip
It is a fun photo picture book that follows the raw material cacao beans until they become chocolate. From roasting cocoa beans to chocolate-making workshops, the film introduces the process of food "transforming" with dynamic photos. It is a picture book Navi Platinum Book certified work, and it is a book that leads to the study of food education and social studies.
The "Sugata Kaeru" series is also popular as a school teaching material. The chocolate version is of particular interest to children.
"Chocolate made from scratch"|Illustration: Bunch Haru Editing: NPO APLA Co., Ltd. Alter Trade Japan|Learn about fair trade and manufacturing
Publisher: Agriculture, Mountain, Fishing Village Cultural Association (Agricultural and Cultural Association) / First edition publication date: January 17, 2018
Relive the process of "making chocolate from scratch" from cocoa beans!
Po Chip
This is a knowledge picture book edited by NPO APLA and Alter Trade Japan that details the process of making chocolate from cocoa beans from scratch. It also incorporates the perspective of fair trade and features social content that focuses on the lives of producers. This is a book that allows you to learn about the fun of manufacturing and food issues from a global perspective at the same time.
It is also ideal for introducing SDGs education and fair trade learning. It is also recommended as a comprehensive learning material for older students.
Chocolate picture book that adults can read (2 works)
It is a work that goes beyond the boundaries of children's and delves into the depths of science and culture.
"In a Grain of Chocolate"|Written by Kiyotaka Sato Illustrated by Junaida|The Science of Chocolate and Beautiful Pictures
Publisher: Gospel Museum Shoten / First edition publication date: October 6, 2023
A story of science and passion in a single piece of chocolate.
Po Chip
It is a knowledge picture book that carefully depicts the process of how chocolate is made from a scientific perspective. The solid knowledge of Kiyotaka Sato, a leading expert in chocolate research, and Junaida's beautiful and fantastic illustrations are perfectly combined. It is a book that can be enjoyed not only by children but also by adults, and the binding is wonderful. It is also certified as a picture book Navi Platinum Book.
A beautiful picture book that is also recommended as a gift for adults. The fusion of scientific content and artistic illustrations is attractive.
"Chocolate Daisuki!"|Written by Brian Moses Illustrated by Mike Gordon Translated by Misako Ishiwata|History and Culture of Chocolate
Publisher: Educational Picture Drama / First edition publication date: 2000
Introducing the history and culture of chocolate in an easy-to-understand manner!
Po Chip
This is a translated picture book that introduces the history of chocolate and world culture in an easy-to-understand manner for children. With Brian Moses' sentences and Mike Gordon's friendly illustrations, you can learn about chocolate in a fun way. This is a book that answers the simple question of children, "Where did chocolate come from?"
How to choose a learning and knowledge chocolate picture book|Points by age
4-5 years old Then we recommend "Why Chocolate Tastes Delicious". The story is tailored to guide you through the characters, so you can enjoy reading aloud. A book that gently answers the first question, "What is chocolate made of?"
Elementary school lower to middle grade When it comes to photo picture books, they come into play. "How can I do it?
Upper elementary school to adults There are "One Piece of Chocolate" and "Chocolate from scratch". With the addition of scientific perspectives and fair trade perspectives, you can experience thinking about the world through chocolate. Even if an adult reads it, it is the type that reads it silently.
▶ blog.mystella.me/chocolate-ehon-story/
If you want to use it as a teaching material for food education and SDGs
Chocolate picture books for learning and knowledge are also ideal for introducing food education and SDGs education.
Entrance to food education There are "Why chocolate tastes good" and "How can you make chocolate". It is an opportunity to naturally think about "where food comes from".
SDGs and Fair Trade The best way to introduce is "chocolate made from scratch". The content focuses on the lives of the people who grow cacao, and is also used as a material for comprehensive learning.
Themes of Free Research However, the chocolate production process is popular. "Sugata Kaeru Tabemono Shashin Ehon" is a book that is easy to use as a base for research and learning because it is rich in photos.
Not only learning|Chocolate picture books of other genres are also available
After learning about the "other side of chocolate" in a learning picture book, reading a story picture book can change the way you feel. Knowing that cacao arrives from distant countries, when you look at the world of "Chocolate City", the weight of reality is added to the depths of fantasy.
On the other hand, children who are interested in storytelling may want to know "how do you really make it?" and reach out to learning. Reading across genres expands the world of chocolate picture books.
▶ Back to the Chocolate Picture Book Complete Guide → [Chocolate picture book catalog] ▶ Chocolate picture book to enjoy with stories → [Chocolate picture book to enjoy with stories] ▶ Chocolate picture book of making experience → [Chocolate picture book to make and enjoy]
Beyond "knowing", "your own story"
When children learn how chocolate is made, they realize a little bit of the vastness of the world.
Cocoa grows in distant countries. A grain that arrives after dozens of processes. "Knowing" is the first step in connecting with the world.
When a child who takes that step takes a step and gets a story with his name in his hand, there is a moment when "knowing" and "story" are connected. An experience in which you and your family appear in the only picture book in the world. Children who have learned a lot will surely be able to cherish their own stories as well.
