Honing emergent literacy via food

Abstract

This study explores the honing of children’s emerging literacy skills through the use of food that is inspired by children’s books. Besides digital and printed books, edible texts have the potential to aid language acquisition and literary appreciation. When edible materials and children’s books are synthesised into a new form to facilitate edible readings, the combination may inspire more families to engage in everyday literacy activities with their children. Using historical examples of edible reading that support emergent literacy, this work investigates how children have fed on edible materialities that appeal to their senses on multiple levels. As well as traditional methods, this study looks at innovative methods of food printing and production such as 2D and 3D printing technologies and how these may be integrated into edible texts through prototypes presented by the author.