D Is for Donut: A Picture Book Good Enough To Eat

Aug 10, 2023 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston, Two Sues on the Aisle

Every culture has its own cuisine, but all of them, independently, seem to have discovered the wonder of fried dough—flour, water, and hot oil—on the tongue. Nutritionists (when they’re not extolling the virtues of green, leafy vegetables) have long recognized the deliciousness of “oil uptake,” the chemical process by which oil is absorbed by food, thereby enhancing the flavor.

One food writer insists humanity should forget about the UN or global summits to bring world peace. Instead, we should just concentrate on how the simple pleasure of fried dough might, all by itself, bring people together.

That seems to be the intention of picture book author Rachel Teichman, whose series, ABCD-Eats, now has two components. Last year, she published B is for Bagel, a happy way for children, ages 2-6, to splish, splash, and roll their way to seeing unicorns and rainbows take bagel forms, topped with everything from lox to sprinkles.

This year, she gives the youngest readers the sequel: D is for Donut. Like its predecessor, this book, which celebrates fried dough from “A is for apple fritter” and “B is for beignet” to “Y is for yoyo” (a delight that starts with orange juice) and “Z is for zeppole,” makes its point in 13 rhyming couplets.

Rebecca Wright’s photographic illustrations are mouth-watering depictions geared to inspire children—and the adults who love them—to concoct their own works of edible art with fried dough, sugar, and any topping you can imagine.

To make sure the book’s fun doesn’t stop after the final rhyme is memorized, Ms. Teichman, whose blog, Crafts and Crumbs, is chock full of her favorite cooking-and-craft ideas, has included recipes. She lives in Houston with her husband and three sons. After reading D is for Donut, children could be excused from envying—just a little—Eli, Ezra, and Jesse, who are praised by their mother for gathering all the donuts with her, making the Key Lime one happen, going with her on their morning donut runs, and enjoying “a chocolate cake donut, right?”

It’s a cheery way to reinforce the alphabet while learning something about the ways different people enjoy the same wondrous treat.

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Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs (1-5) it pays to buy (rather than make) in order to see the play, show, film, book, or exhibit being reviewed. 

D is for Donut -received a five Challah rating