Food can bring together families, communities, and cultures. It is the essence of life and yet our relationships with one another can be most fraught at the dinner table. This perpetually fascinating subject has inspired a unique collection of fiction—including flash fiction, essay, short stories, and even a "stoku" (amalgam of short story and haiku)—from a wonderfully diverse and international group of authors.

A pet fly searches for his favorite brown, oozy, lumpy, smelly food.

An Egyptian crocodile, with a big ego and a big appetite, is taken to Paris in 1799 by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Mama Bear starts a campaign to convince her family that they are eating too much junk food.

The new lunch lady at Ella Mentry School, Ms. LaGrange, writes secret messages in the mashed potatoes and tries her best to get A.J. and the other students to eat healthy foods.

Autumn has settled on the farm, but fallen laeaves aren't the only signs of the season. Find out what animals kitten sees preparing themselves for winter.

When kitty discovers there is no cat food in the house, she decides to become very, very bad.

A tiger comes to tea at Sophie's house and eats and drinks everything in sight, so that there is nothing left for Daddy's supper.

Peanut Butter sets out with his soccer ball to find a friend after moving to a new town, but everyone from Hamburger to Soup seems to be too busy to play.

Second-grader Emily's memorable day includes a new school bus, a forgotten lunch bag, a special cafeteria meal, and a new friendship.